Camino Blog – Day 11

Welcome to this Camino Blog. If you are new it might be best to start with the introduction. Otherwise, carry on.

Location: Viloria de la Rioja​

Distance: 14.1km – 227.3km total. We are going to try using one of our rest days by doing 3 days in 4, so all short. Left around 10 o’clock today so nice and leisurely.

Weather: Nicest weather day so far. Also the hottest.

Terrain: Smooth path.

Physical condition: Pretty good but glad for a short day

Other: So first time getting lost today. Missed an marker and ended up ambling off in the wrong direction. Thankfully re directed by a random house owner. Who knows how far we would have gone! Since we left late Crystal caught us up! Had lunch with her at Gronon, which we were trying for yesterday, where she was going to stay. Decided to stay where we are because they have a communal meal which should be interesting.  Pretty cute and nice place.  Cosy.

News from the track:

• Apparently the Pyrenees pass was closed two days after we went through due to wind and snow. In general we seemed to have lucked in with reasonable weather so far.

• Yan the German is in trouble behind. Apparently his ankle is injured and he had to take a taxi yesterday. He will try and get to Burgos and then deside on if to call it quits. Tough decision but that’s what can happen on this thing.

SB 11 – Pretense is a sign of acceptance

Mimicry, Imitation, Obedience, all these are similar words with varying connotations attached. I go with C S Lewis again and prefer Pretense as it rams home for me the nature of what this is about.

In pretending to be like God we are like children playing at pretending to be adults. It is not just a game, it is a very good way to learn. But no one seriously thinks that children are in fact adults! They are free to try, get it wrong, get up and have another go, fall over again, repeat over, all in the loving and encouraging gaze of the parent.

It is like we are experimenting with things. We are are supposed to try stuff and are expected to get things wrong. That is how we learn.

But the desire to act like the adult is a sign they actually want to be an adult!

Once again I choose pretense because it irritates me. My natural inclination is to see myself in control of the process, that through my own efforts I can change myself into a better person. I may be able to do this a little bit, but on the on the God scale these changes are irrelevant.

Another word I like is align, although it is easy to assign to much to yourself with this one. Hopefully over time our desire to be aligned with God increases. We don’t do it because we HAVE to but because we WANT to.

I don’t believe that what we do changes how much we are be battered by the light of Grace. However, I do believe that we have the option to allow more light in and that will change how we experience God.

And it is just possible that this omnipotent God is surprised and delighted by what we do.

It probably doesn’t need pointing out, but this one is only 1 of the 12 SB’s on my list. And yet in the life of a Christian a disproportionate amount of time can be spent on this one. There is always this siren call that makes our role in this of overwhelming importance. I repeat, “it’s a trap!”

On a final note on this one – I also believe that we are getting a better idea of what alignment looks like over time. I think that the biblical basis provides a vision of the ideal rather than absolutes, and that the revelation is continuing. However, we still see through a glass darkly, and while it might be a touched less smudged, the window is still more defined by the dirt than it’s cleanliness.

Pictures

A bit chilly in the monastery last night. Haven’t lit a fire for ages! Very proud.

Mia the Dog is also walking the Comino. Carries her food on her back in a bag.

Lots of vapour trails in Europe

Storks! Don’t get them in NZ

Lots of different crosses marking the trial.

More scenery