My uncle, Rafa Cacho, 66, went on a ten day trek on the Camino de Santiago with his wife, Teresa, my parents and some friends. Also known as The Way of St James, the pilgrimage originates in France and ends at Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Some of the things he brought back with him and I thought be perfect for this Holy Week:
1. Learn
to be patient and you shall overcome: The
trials we experienced came courtesy of the weather – heat, cold, rain – and
exhaustion.
2. Meet
different cultures and be friendly: We smiled
at and greeted strangers. Be ready with
“hola,” and “buen camino.”
3. Hopeful
for the youth: I’d
observed there were many young people at Mass in the town of Portomarin in .
4. Everyone
is helpful to one and all: My
in-laws, Joaquin and Nie Nie, had lost their way and a farmer showed them the
right path. If your intentions are pure,
people will give good advice.
5. Nature’s beauty is all around: All you need is to notice it and see God’s way
and love for all.
6. Find
your weakness: Recognize
them and you will find your Camino in life.
7. Your
Camino in life would be made purer if you try to walk in Christ’s way: Do this through prayers, studying Christ’s
life and to read up.
8. Don't
allow thoughts to linger in your mind about your needing to be recognized: Thinking
of the good in others is better.
9. Recognize
that there are events that are meant to be:
Teresa, Nie Nie, Joaquin and I went to a small church as we
left the town of Arzua. A lady of 88 years old gave Teresa a Camino shell
made by a father named Paco who had lost a son.
A while later on the road, we’d met a trio of
Americans who were two doctors and a medical assistant. We had a nice conversation about how good
Filipina nurses are and their work values. They’d noticed and asked Teresa
about the shell given to her by the old
lady. She’d explained how it was made by
a father in memory of his lost son.
It was then that the medical assistant shared
that she, too, had lost a son. Teresa gave
her the special shell and both hugged and cried knowing in their hearts that
the special shell was really meant for her.
Did they both meet by chance or was it meant to
be?
