Category: Sabbatical 2017

I do not want to appear morbid; however, I am sometimes intrigued by cemeteries. Those cemeteries often show how individuals respond to death. The way individuals are remembered by words and decorations on tombs or on plaques in churches can convey powerful sentiments. The very location of cemeteries may also say something about the hopes … Continue reading 73. Responding to Death: Words about the Dead and Hopes for the Dead

My sabbatical is about moral responsibility. While walking the Camino, I think about numerous traits related to the morally responsible person, simplicity, perseverance, hospitality all connect to being responsible. Yet, I find that it is somewhat difficult, but not impossible, to thinking about justice and a just person while on the Camino. One experience relevant … Continue reading 72. Wondering about Justice while Walking the Camino

  While walking the Camino, I received many gestures of kindness, and witnessed many gestures of kindness. Some deeds of kindness seemed small at the time; however, they had important consequences. On the second night, I got to meet a young Canadian. At 6’4” and 240 pounds, he had quite a goal. He wanted to … Continue reading 71. Kindness along the Camino



  Listening and talking are daily components of the Camino. The conversations may include lengthy life-stories, or the conversations may comprise only two sentences passing along information. The conversations may last only a minute or they may be extended over one or two weeks as individuals meet and re-meet each other along the Way. I … Continue reading 70. Conversations Along the Camino



  No matter what one thinks, nobody can walk the Camino without depending upon the Spanish people and world along the Camino. As I walked the approximately 790 kilometers from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela, I saw and talked with dozens of Spanish individuals. At times, I simply observed their world; … Continue reading 69. The Spanish World along the Camino

“He’ll Regret It” and “I Need to Find Myself” are words that I heard on the Camino. “He’ll Regret It” captures the occasions of romance on the Camino. “I Need to Find Myself” refers to the romanticism I encountered. During my month on the Camino, I heard both stories about romance and stories exhibiting a … Continue reading 68. “He’ll Regret It” and “I Need to Find Myself”- Romance and Romanticism on the Camino



Walking 500 miles on the Camino takes me back to basics. After the first day, I became especially aware of what moves me from place to place- my feet. Being constantly surrounded by others, I also noticed the great variety of bodies moving along that Camino. Since I probably have good peasant ancestors, my feet … Continue reading 67. Feet and Faces on the Camino

Being a peregrino on the Camino, I am surrounded by history. For example, since I was ignorant of some features of St. Francis’s life, I did not realize that he might have traveled the Camino in the early 1200’s. On the one hand, it is possible that this legend is a later fabrication because none … Continue reading 66. Did St. Francis Sleep Here?

Centuries ago along Spain’s Camino, there were physical reminders of the Christian perspectives. A peregrino would walk past churches and cathedrals, stone crucifixes marking crossroads or town squares, past nuns, monks, priests, and knights of the Order of Santiago. All of these visual reminders reinforced Christian religious perspectives that motivated the peregrino and that provided … Continue reading 65. Graffiti and Street Art Along the Camino

I know that sometimes the temperature might be in the 90’s. I know that there are albergues which have bunkbeds for 160 peregrinos, but only in two or three rooms. I know that the next albergue, or even the next hostel, pension, or hotel, might be 6 miles. I can usually find sufficient information; however, … Continue reading 64. “Always Go Forward” or “Go Back:” Common Sense on the Camino