Camino Lessons: Comparisons

Camino de Santiago

St. Jean Pied de Port

Cathedral of Santiago

Compostella

Tourist pilgrims While preparing for the Camino de Santiago I read about how the pilgrimage would change during the last 100 km before reaching Santiago. This was due to an influx of new pilgrims who would start in the town of Sarria which is the last place one can start the Camino in order to be issued a Compostella certificate. Youtube videos and blogs encouraged pilgrims who had started their journey from much farther back not look down on these “tourist pilgrims”.

I remember thinking of course I wouldn’t do that. Where someone starts is their own business and we are all just pilgrims heading to Santiago. Yeah….right! Once I reached Sarria I saw whole groups of people walking together with the familiar scallop shell dangling from their day packs. Day packs? I’d been carrying my FULL pack for a month! Who were these strangers, these “tourist pilgrims” and what were they doing on MY Camino trail?

These folk came in groups. How could they do a pilgrimage as a group? Where was the personal trials? The personal reflection? How do you have an inner journey with “the gang”? I overheard two Swiss “tourist pilgrims” saying how they were staying in a hotel rather than albergues These folk came in groups. How could they do a pilgrimage as a group? Where was the personal trials? The personal reflection? How do you have an inner journey with “the gang”? I overheard two Swiss “tourist pilgrims” saying how they were staying in a hotel rather than albergues

Hotels? How do you do a pilgrimage from a hotel? Where are the bunk beds? The communal showers and toilets? The “pilgrims lullaby” of snoring which earplugs just barely keep at bay. Hotels? How do you do a pilgrimage from a hotel? Where are the bunk beds? The communal showers and toilets? The “pilgrims lullaby” of snoring which earplugs just barely keep at bay.

Tribalizing Yes, it became quickly apparent that I had tribalized the Camino. Those friends who I had shared the Way with for weeks had become “us”. These “hotel ladies” and others that had started the Camino in Sarria had become “them”. If I recognized you, you were “in”…if I didn’t, you were “out”. Yes, it became quickly apparent that I had tribalized the Camino. Those friends who I had shared the Way with for weeks had become “us”. These “hotel ladies” and others that had started the Camino in Sarria had become “them”. If I recognized you, you were “in”…if I didn’t, you were “out”.

Matthew Ch 20 Jesus talked a lot about this kind of comparison and “judging” Jesus talked a lot about this kind of comparison and “judging”

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Radar We all have a radar working within us! We all have a radar working within us! This radar which constantly is scanning to see who is getting more favor, money, attention, praise, etc. will lead to much frustration and anger This radar which constantly is scanning to see who is getting more favor, money, attention, praise, etc. will lead to much frustration and anger

Comparing So as I walked and reflected on my “Camino” superiority over my new ” would be” fellow pilgrims another idea struck me; I thought about how my friend Rob had walked from Mongolia to Hong Kong through the Gobi Desert in winter. So as I walked and reflected on my “Camino” superiority over my new ” would be” fellow pilgrims another idea struck me; I thought about how my friend Rob had walked from Mongolia to Hong Kong through the Gobi Desert in winter. Compared to his 6 month ordeal my little adventure from France was a walk in the park. Compared to his 6 month ordeal my little adventure from France was a walk in the park. He didn’t have a warm cafe to drop into for hot coffee and croissant. He didn’t have a warm cafe to drop into for hot coffee and croissant. He couldn’t stop into a supermarket for fresh food, toiletries, and other supplies. He couldn’t stop into a supermarket for fresh food, toiletries, and other supplies. And seeing the pictures of the tent he stayed in my albergue now looked like a hotel And seeing the pictures of the tent he stayed in my albergue now looked like a hotel

I was a “tourist pilgrim” too! I wasn’t an “us” at all. I was a “them”. Maybe that was why Jesus spent so much time warning us not to judge. Judging leads to comparisons…and sooner or later, we all suffer by comparison. Instead Jesus spent a lot of time turning all of “them” into “us” I was a “tourist pilgrim” too! I wasn’t an “us” at all. I was a “them”. Maybe that was why Jesus spent so much time warning us not to judge. Judging leads to comparisons…and sooner or later, we all suffer by comparison. Instead Jesus spent a lot of time turning all of “them” into “us”

Closing story of Italians Closing story of Italians John Ch 20 John Ch 20

What did I learn most? Within 10 minutes of returning to work I was hit with “busy” Within 10 minutes of returning to work I was hit with “busy”

My identity “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka (tears),they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength,till each appears before God in Zion.” Psalm 84:5-7