Worship Sundays at 9 am
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Preparing for worship 3/3/13
[The Camino de Santiago (Camino means “the way”) is an ancient pilgrimage trail with beginning points in France, Spain and other spots around Western Europe.]
On the Camino you begin to realize that many people are beginning from different
points of origin. Not everyone begins from the same beginning point. So as you are traveling you may be walking with people who have already traveled hundreds of miles as well as with people who have only just begun their walking. This is fine because you really can’t make assumptions about the people with whom you are walking, you really must stay open to who they are, why they walk and from whence they come. What is uniting, what we have in common, is the same destination.
But there as some things that clearly set apart those who have traveled two, three or four weeks from those who are just beginning. Long time travelers tend to be efficient with what they carry. They pack quickly in the morning, carry very little extra or extraneous stuff, their boots are warn and still strong. 
Those who have been walking usually walk as through the walk is their joy. Those who are beginning look as though they simply hope to finish the day. Beginners often have packs that are too heavy and they have not yet build up their walking wisdom or their endurance.
Beginners sometimes have grandiose plans for their walk and talk abundantly about the things they will do or see. Those who have walked long tend to be very realistic in their plans, expect things to come up that will change their planning and don’t talk all that much about what they have accomplished.
Much of this is also true of those who walk the Walk of Faith. We are all heading in the same direction with very different beginning points and those who have been walking for some time walk alongside those who are just beginning. Faith is a personal walk that others cannot do for you but part of gaining strength in the journey is walking along with others who walk around you. You must learn to walk your own walk – and the longer you have walked the more you know about how to make your way and how to deal with the challenges that come along.
Traveling mercy is something you learn along the way. It’s
caring for those having a difficult time, it’s showing a short timer how to keep blisters clean and in good shape. It’s about being patient with yourself as you walk as well as being patient with those who walk near you. I have come to realize, much of the pilgrimage itself is all about learning to receive and share traveling mercies. Some of those mercies come from heaven and some of them come from those who travel the way along with you.
Peace to you all as you learn to walk the Walk of Faith.
Pastor Mitch