Ritual Blessing

This evening after supper, I walked with my backpack to see my mom on the eve of her birthday, and of my leaving for the journey.  Left at 7:05pm.  The weather was perfect...a still summer evening at 21 or 22 degrees celcius.  The pack is comfortable, weighing in at about 17 or 18 lbs. 

I walked by young teens. A boy with a Jimmy Dean retro hair look, saying to the beautiful young lady with the long blond hair, "I just don't think you'll be happy with that guy." Innocent yet perceptive enough looking faces, and her with a look that said, "that's what you want to think." 

I walked by the skateboard park with ten or so young men showing their stuff.  Fearless fun.  A few turned to look a the strange lady carrying the backpack in the middle of the city.  I smiled. 

Walked past bikers and other walkers...a young couple with their beautiful two or three year old boy, walking on either side of him, holding his arms and swinging him as they walked. 

Got to mom's at 8:15 (4.6 km.).  Had to phone the nursing station to get into her apartment.  She couldn't get up to get the door open.  The nurse kindly obliged.  I was happy to see mom, even at so late an hour for her.  I think she was happy to see me too.  I asked her to bless my pack and me...she did with the usual vigour in her voice when she prays...in this case a ritual blessing prayer.  Mom prays with conviction, intensity and spirit.  I feel it go over me like an electric pulse.  She thinks she's old, but she's got spark and fire in her voice when she prays.

She was sad I wouldn't be there for her birthday.  "When will you be back?" she asks.  "I'm back on Sept. 9th" I say.  "I might be gone by then."  "yes mom...you might be.  and you might not be."  I might be, I think to myself.  "I know" she says.  "Don't know why the Lord's keeping me here so long." This is a ritual and regular conversation we have.  Big kiss and hug, a goodbye and I'm back on the road.

I left at 8:40pm and got back home by 9:40pm.  Good time.  I felt light and richly blessed.  The evening was lovely...even walking in the dark for the last 1/2 km or more.  9.2 km. up and down the hills of St. Albert.  I can do this.  Thank God.  Feet hurt a bit, but I will do this.  Long plane ride tomorrow.  Will read the book, Rosie's Project on the plane.  (will not carry it on my back.)  Good night beautiful people, beautiful planet. 

In a few days, I leave for Europe.  I'll be walking the way of St. James, or the Compostella de Santiago as it is known, with friends, from September 21st through to September 5th to my intended destination of Burgos, Spain.  I will take on the other half of the pilgrimage another time hopefully.  For now, I'm excited to be going for a little less than half of the way.

For friends and family, this will be my way of communicating with you.  If other life travellers join in for a view, it's a joy and privilege to share...welcome.

For me, this is an opportunity to reflect on my life so far, which unlike the journey I'll be walking is a little more than half complete.  How much of my journey has been the unfolding of a gift for others?  Has my life grown into a larger, wider communion with others in community?  Have I lived mostly for myself or for others and how? 

I am a woman of faith and so I will be praying these questions, and seeking to see the truth in myself, and to ask for what I need to continue the journey.  Mostly, I'll be letting go and trusting God to do what needs doing in me.  Less about words; more about surrender, trust, and humility. 

I won't be answering those questions here!  But I will share them.  Maybe someone else wants to make time during their life's journey, wherever you are, to be with the questions and behold the truth in the still silence at the center of the soul where Divine Mystery dwells.  And I will also share insights that come, stories of encounters and pictures of the journey. 

I will carry many people in my heart as I walk...people I know who are suffering with illness, or recovering from accidents, or who have gone so far from their true road in life, they have lost significant and important parts of themselves.  Love, mercy and healing are on the road too...walking...endlessly moving, like a force of energy that blows where it will. 

Hope to meet you on the road!