I never know who I’m going to meet. I inevitably find fascinating people. In a way, I find everybody is fascinating if I give them time to disclose themselves!

I meet Min while I’m having coffee. Min is an older woman hiker, currently walking by herself. As a Vietnamese boat refugee decades ago, she has lived in her adopted New York City and now London with her husband for the past thirty years. Because her father was in the Vietnamese army, her parents and siblings had to escape Vietnam, or be killed. After their escape, the Roman Catholic Church arranged for the family to move to New York. For several years, her skilled officer father did janitorial work. Anything to provide for his family. Because of the church’s sponsorship, she and several of her siblings even attended Columbia University. Although remaining a Buddhist, she is “deeply and forever grateful” to the Roman Catholic Church.

I walk with Min several times; and we meet off and on during the next week. She has not originally planning on walking alone. Both she and her husband have planned the trip for months; however, he breaks his arm only weeks before the departure date. Undeterred, Min has called and invited a cousin in California to join her. Who wouldn’t accept an all-expenses paid (except for airfare) trip! Although the cousin accepts Min’s invitation, she can not begin the Camino from Porto with Min. Min is looking for her cousin to join in a couple of days. After this trip, she plans on spending a month taking art lessons in Tuscany! Wonderful plans. She’s also learned that her husband might be well enough to join her in Tuscany. Keeping a positive spirit, Min is excited about her future plans.

I learn that Min’s walk is not without difficulties of a more immediate sort. During an early morning two days later, she is sitting alone underneath a cross. Sadly she explains “I lost my credentials!” She continues “My airbnb host drove me to where I ate yesterday; but the credentials were not there. I’m waiting for the town office to open to see if anybody turned it in.” So, Min sits underneath the cross drawing the hilltop monastery overlooking the ocean. She shows me her sketch. I understand why she wants to go to Tuscany. She is a skilled artist!

One early morning several days later, I meet Min and her cousin. Unfortunately, the cousin is not in shape to walk 10 miles a day. On her second day of walking, Min’s cousin is walking very, very slowly. Both of her knees are sore and aching. She wonders if she’ll be able to walk the whole distance to Santiago de Compostela. When I give her one of my precautionary knee braces, the cousin says “I’ll return it.” “You needn’t, we have to help each other.” Who do I later meet in Santiago? Min and her cousin!

When walking the Camino, one meets all sorts of people. I find it amazing that in short periods of time, people can form friendships even though those friendships will usually be temporary. I am also amazed by the difficulties other people have faced, the kindness of others who have helped them, the determination to overcome those difficulties, and the willingness to share some of their life with others. Amazing! Grace-filled!