Dear Momma,
Thank you for getting me the tomato slicer! I was still searching for one as recently as Saturday. I do not know how you managed to find one, but thank you. …Keep displaying your paintings. I know it is work to get them to the museum and home, but people very much enjoy looking at them and appreciate your talent and effort.
As far as I know the kids are doing well out in Nashville. Adam sent me a picture of a coffee maker he had bought. That was a pretty grown-up purchase. (I wonder if he has a clue how to operate it.) Rob was up late, late, late the last two nights solving work issues and upgrading one of the firm’s software systems. But he bounced out of here good and early this morning ready to “Carpe the diem!” as he always says.
I actually have some big news to write to you about. I have not known how to tell you about this, or the kids either for that matter, because it is something that likely will not make sense to you or them. On the other hand, Rob seems to get it and is all for it. So that is good. Here goes:
I am going to walk the Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James). It is a spiritual pilgrimage. My motivation is deeply personal. To others it will just sound like mumbo jumbo, “blah, blah, set myself on the pilgrim path, blah, blah, blah, so that I can lift myself out of the mundane, blah, blah, in order to journey closer to God” and that sort of stuff. But seriously, I am at that point on my path of inquiry that requires a leap of faith-- that point when I need to abandon the security of outdated dogma, let go of the safety of the familiar, and dive into the unknown, with nothing but my faith to support me. We all have different psychological, spiritual, and emotional needs and pathologies. I, personally, need to better understand the context (as well as the content) of my life. Existential loneliness does not disappear by replacing partners, moving, changing jobs, etc. I know, more mumbo goop, blah, blah, a sunrise over the sea, animal tracks in fresh powered snow, a walk under a full moon, blah, blah. But, as John Brierley writes, the sun and the moon and the snow and the sea DO act as a reflection of a larger perspective, a distant memory of something holy-- something bigger than, and yet part of, us. This is where I am hoping the Camino de Santiago can provide a powerful reminder of the sacred in my life and the desire to reclaim my spiritual inheritance. …Anyway, like I said, I doubt I can satisfactorily explain this, so I’ll just move on to telling you about the logistics of the trip. And, yes, it will be just me, by myself, going.
I am going to be gone for about six weeks, leaving July 15th and returning August 24th. I already have all of my plane and train tickets purchased. I will fly to Paris and then take trains to Bordeaux, Bayonne, and Saint Jean Pied de Port. I will spend nights in hotels in Paris and Bayonne, and then begin the walk to Santiago in Saint Jean. There are many ways to Santiago de Campostela in Spain from different places of origin. The route I will be taking is called the Camino Frances; it is the most common route. It is eight hundred kilometers (about five hundred miles) from Saint Jean on the French side of the Pyrenees Mountains to Santiago de Compostela, where the bones of the Apostle James are believed to be interred. It will take me about thirty-five days to walk it. I will stay in refugios/albergues – hostels that are reserved exclusively for pilgrims on the Camino. The albergues are provided at ten to twenty kilometer intervals on, or immediately adjacent to, the Camino. I will take only a backpack with a sleeping bag.
I have watched umteen videos and have read several books and hundreds of online posts by former peregrinos (pilgrims). My friend Sharon recently walked the last 165 kilometers (100 miles) and said it was one of the best experiences of her whole life. I realize that, with my foot problems, I will have pain, but I will take it slowly. It will just take me longer than others. I have purchased nearly all of my gear, mostly from good ol’ Amazon, including the Cadillac of hiking boots and special SmartWool PhD socks. Rob and I have been having a blast packing up heavy backpacks and hiking above Graeagle and elsewhere to become conditioned. Rob is excited about it too. He does not necessarily want to go on my particular trip, but he believes his six weeks to himself will be a chapter changer for him as well.
I do not know how often I will have Internet access, but I will either set up a blog so that you can follow the trip online if you want to, or I will send out periodic group emails.
I realize this venture will require faith on your end too as I know you worry a lot. But trust that the Camino de Santiago is considered to be the safest path on earth. I think it would be very helpful and enjoyable for you if you would rent and watch the movie The Way, which was recently released on DVD. It stars Martin Sheen and is directed by his son Emilio Estevez. In the movie, Martin Sheen plays Tom Avery, a surly doctor who goes to Saint Jean Pied de Port to retrieve the remains of his son who had died while embarking on the pilgrimage to Santiago. While in Saint Jean, Sheen’s character decides to honor his son by walking from Saint Jean to Santiago de Compostela-plus. On his journey, Tom learns the difference between “the life we live and the life we choose.”
Okay. There is my weird news. I’ll close with a poem by Christopher Fry and some words by William Ward.
Love ya,
Lisa
"A Sleep of Prisoners"
by Christopher Fry
Thank God our time is now when wrong
Comes up to face us everywhere,
Never to leave us till we take
The longest stride of soul folk ever took.
Affairs are now soul size.
The enterprise is exploration into God.
Where are you making for?
It takes so many thousand years to wake,
But will you wake for pity’s sake?
"The Risk"
by William Arthur Ward
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk being called sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing may avoid suffering and sorrow.
But they cannot learn, feel, change, grow or really live.
Chained by their servitude they are slaves who have forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is truly free
Thank you for getting me the tomato slicer! I was still searching for one as recently as Saturday. I do not know how you managed to find one, but thank you. …Keep displaying your paintings. I know it is work to get them to the museum and home, but people very much enjoy looking at them and appreciate your talent and effort.
As far as I know the kids are doing well out in Nashville. Adam sent me a picture of a coffee maker he had bought. That was a pretty grown-up purchase. (I wonder if he has a clue how to operate it.) Rob was up late, late, late the last two nights solving work issues and upgrading one of the firm’s software systems. But he bounced out of here good and early this morning ready to “Carpe the diem!” as he always says.
I actually have some big news to write to you about. I have not known how to tell you about this, or the kids either for that matter, because it is something that likely will not make sense to you or them. On the other hand, Rob seems to get it and is all for it. So that is good. Here goes:
I am going to walk the Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James). It is a spiritual pilgrimage. My motivation is deeply personal. To others it will just sound like mumbo jumbo, “blah, blah, set myself on the pilgrim path, blah, blah, blah, so that I can lift myself out of the mundane, blah, blah, in order to journey closer to God” and that sort of stuff. But seriously, I am at that point on my path of inquiry that requires a leap of faith-- that point when I need to abandon the security of outdated dogma, let go of the safety of the familiar, and dive into the unknown, with nothing but my faith to support me. We all have different psychological, spiritual, and emotional needs and pathologies. I, personally, need to better understand the context (as well as the content) of my life. Existential loneliness does not disappear by replacing partners, moving, changing jobs, etc. I know, more mumbo goop, blah, blah, a sunrise over the sea, animal tracks in fresh powered snow, a walk under a full moon, blah, blah. But, as John Brierley writes, the sun and the moon and the snow and the sea DO act as a reflection of a larger perspective, a distant memory of something holy-- something bigger than, and yet part of, us. This is where I am hoping the Camino de Santiago can provide a powerful reminder of the sacred in my life and the desire to reclaim my spiritual inheritance. …Anyway, like I said, I doubt I can satisfactorily explain this, so I’ll just move on to telling you about the logistics of the trip. And, yes, it will be just me, by myself, going.
I am going to be gone for about six weeks, leaving July 15th and returning August 24th. I already have all of my plane and train tickets purchased. I will fly to Paris and then take trains to Bordeaux, Bayonne, and Saint Jean Pied de Port. I will spend nights in hotels in Paris and Bayonne, and then begin the walk to Santiago in Saint Jean. There are many ways to Santiago de Campostela in Spain from different places of origin. The route I will be taking is called the Camino Frances; it is the most common route. It is eight hundred kilometers (about five hundred miles) from Saint Jean on the French side of the Pyrenees Mountains to Santiago de Compostela, where the bones of the Apostle James are believed to be interred. It will take me about thirty-five days to walk it. I will stay in refugios/albergues – hostels that are reserved exclusively for pilgrims on the Camino. The albergues are provided at ten to twenty kilometer intervals on, or immediately adjacent to, the Camino. I will take only a backpack with a sleeping bag.
I have watched umteen videos and have read several books and hundreds of online posts by former peregrinos (pilgrims). My friend Sharon recently walked the last 165 kilometers (100 miles) and said it was one of the best experiences of her whole life. I realize that, with my foot problems, I will have pain, but I will take it slowly. It will just take me longer than others. I have purchased nearly all of my gear, mostly from good ol’ Amazon, including the Cadillac of hiking boots and special SmartWool PhD socks. Rob and I have been having a blast packing up heavy backpacks and hiking above Graeagle and elsewhere to become conditioned. Rob is excited about it too. He does not necessarily want to go on my particular trip, but he believes his six weeks to himself will be a chapter changer for him as well.
I do not know how often I will have Internet access, but I will either set up a blog so that you can follow the trip online if you want to, or I will send out periodic group emails.
I realize this venture will require faith on your end too as I know you worry a lot. But trust that the Camino de Santiago is considered to be the safest path on earth. I think it would be very helpful and enjoyable for you if you would rent and watch the movie The Way, which was recently released on DVD. It stars Martin Sheen and is directed by his son Emilio Estevez. In the movie, Martin Sheen plays Tom Avery, a surly doctor who goes to Saint Jean Pied de Port to retrieve the remains of his son who had died while embarking on the pilgrimage to Santiago. While in Saint Jean, Sheen’s character decides to honor his son by walking from Saint Jean to Santiago de Compostela-plus. On his journey, Tom learns the difference between “the life we live and the life we choose.”
Okay. There is my weird news. I’ll close with a poem by Christopher Fry and some words by William Ward.
Love ya,
Lisa
"A Sleep of Prisoners"
by Christopher Fry
Thank God our time is now when wrong
Comes up to face us everywhere,
Never to leave us till we take
The longest stride of soul folk ever took.
Affairs are now soul size.
The enterprise is exploration into God.
Where are you making for?
It takes so many thousand years to wake,
But will you wake for pity’s sake?
"The Risk"
by William Arthur Ward
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk being called sentimental
To reach out to another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing may avoid suffering and sorrow.
But they cannot learn, feel, change, grow or really live.
Chained by their servitude they are slaves who have forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is truly free
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