Part 1 Camino

In 2023 I set out on the Camino del Norte. Terry was going and he had agreed to let me tag along. I was excited.

That excitement did not last too long. Day one was a pretty ambitious walk. Good thing it was dark when we started or I would never have attempted to walk up that mountain. I did. Terry was waiting for me at the bottom. He pointed out that for every “up” there is a “down.” The “UPs” and “DOWNs” were real but they were also symbolic of life’s highs and lows.

(1) Immediately my knee began to give me problems and the pain was bearable but nagging. I began to think of the things in my life which were nagging at me and I had just kept on bearing with it. Wisdom say’s “let that stuff go”, but sometimes it’s hard to find the courage to let stuff go.

(2) Soon after the knee pain a blister developed that was so wild it took me to the hospital. By definition hospitals are for healing hurts, pains, and illnesses. I certainly had/ have experienced all of these on an emotional level. Was the Camino a hospital? Was I healing? Am I still healing.

(3) I found out quick that I needed to rest more that I was resting. Sleeping is not easy for me. Sleeping away from home is tougher yet in addition to the discomfort of sounds, beds, temperature I was also breaking in a new CPAP. It was a travel version and super helpful (If you want info on this CPAP contact me. It has been a game changer). I saw a parallel between rest and my spirituality. I simply do not rest in Christ like I desire to. Even now a couple years later I still see this as challenging. To be in peacefulness is challenging.

(4) Growth. I was hungry. I was losing weight and eating -a lot. I began to think about what I was feeding myself on a cognitive level (what was I thinking about) and on a spiritual level. What was/ am I consuming. Was I finding time to prostrate myself in humility before God? Was I taking time to kneel in worship and adoration. Was I sitting in the seat of learning. Was I standing out of respect? How was I growing?

By the end of that first Camino I had physically lost weight and grown on an emotional and spiritual level. My knee was also twice its regular size and required medical attention upon my return to the States. Overall I liked the Camino Del Norte. I wish I could have been more adventurous on a physical level but I was very pleased with the emotional and spiritual outcomes that it provided.

About a year after we made it back to the States, Terry and I did a series of “talks” at church about the Camino. We both learned a lot about ourselves and as we shared the experience of our journey with others. Our circle of friends grew. It was at those “talks” that I met Charlie and his wife. Charlie is currently still with Terry on the Camino. As I write this they are somewhere near Tui, Spain.

Charlie and I became friends after those talks. He helped me with a building project and out of that a pretty solid appreciation for each other grew. Not too often in life do you just comfortably hit it off with someone. I was blessed. Our wives also became friends, if I’m honest to a tee even our dogs like hanging out together. Charlie really wanted to do a Camino.

I had a tendency to vascillate between not wanting to do another Camino and wanting to do one. I had PRT done to my knees and it seemed to be working. I decided through that process and a series of other events that I should do another Camino.

Terry wanted to do the Portuguese side of the Camino from Porto to Santiago. I thought that would be fun. Charlie also liked the idea. Soon a plan was born. Three friends headed out to do our own yet a shared Camino.

I was driving back from my friend Robbie Holders celebration of life ceremony when I got the call from Adam. Adam is our oldest friend ( I say our because my brother Marty and I met Adam when we were super young and we are all still very good friends). Adam said, “Grant (Adam’s father) wants to go on the Camino with you. He had a dream last night and the Holy Ghost told him he should go on this Camino.” I said, “ok”. I mean anyone can go on a Camino at any time but it would be cool if more people joined us at least for a day or two. Grant met with Terry and I shortly after this. Grant immediately left the meeting and went to apply for a passport. Through a series of crazy events Grant received the passport a couple of days before his flight. Now the party was up to four.

I had invited several people to walk with us. Several were geared up to go but something happened and they couldn’t make it. One of my friends and his kids (they are young adults not children) came along for the walk. They walked with us for a few days then spent some quality time together. It was super cool. One of the guys from church is actually en route to walk with Terry and Charlie as they finish This Camino.

I say, “This Camino” because the word Camino means: way, path, journey… At the Cathedral in Santiago at the end of the Camino Del Norte I attended the Pilgrims Mass. The Priest talked about how Jesus is the way. He encouraged us to focus on Jesus and to believe in Him. He then reminded us that Camino doesn’t end in Santiago it goes on throughout life. He also emphasized that Christ is always there wherever we are.

And where was I at the beginning of this Camino? I was weak but willing. I spent a lot of time and money working with Doctors and Therapists getting physically ready. I played a bunch of music and wrote some new songs as I emotionally prepared. There was a great deal of prayer and meditation. I may even go so far as to say I did some “soul searching.” Then the day came.

We met at the airport and had a coffee waiting for our flights. Terry and Charlie were flying together to Spain and I was flying solo to Holland. I thought I was going to see some friends but I also had some Vet Church work to do.

I really was only going to visit an old college buddy and one of my favorite friends from those days when I was an Army Chaplain. He is still an Army Chaplain and he encourage me. Seeing my “old college buddy” turned into a conversation about a “Vet Church Lighter.” He works in the lighter industry. I began to see a way that could help support Vet Church- we all need a lighter. (This little light of mine, light of the world, light under a bushel, got a light, burn one down and all that). Every single one of us would benefit from buying a lighter.  And if all yall bought a lighter and Vet Church made a buck off each lighter it would certainly help keep things going. I didn’t even know my friend was in the lighter business- talk about beginning a Camino.

From Holland I flew to Porto Portugal and met up with the group. We took some time to prepare. During that down time I watched a Premiere League game in a restaurant talking with Kate. For “date night” we watch the games of certain football clubs. Soon guys watching the game with us were also talking to Kate. TV in America was about 30 seconds behind and she was on speaker phone so it was quite an experience. And then it was time to say goodbye and get ready for the walking part.

It was early AM. Grant was ready to go. Terry was rustling around. Charlie and I rolled out of bed. We all met downstairs, left the hostel and walked to the Cathedral in Porto. Our friends met us. We began to walk. I was leading us from the Cathedral. I chose to follow the wrong arrow. Someone pointed it out. We reversed course. Got back on track and began walking.

My friend Sam dropped me off at the airport in Florida a bit before Terry and Charlie arrived. I was dealing with a head full of questions. Was I on the right track. Should I keep doing Vet Church. It’s been about ten years and there just is a lack of funds. Granted I am no good at asking for money. The few monthly and annual supporters must do so because the Spirit has led them to do so. I sure ain’t asking for it. So, the thoughts began to creep into my brain. What am I doing with my life? Why keep going in this direction?

Sitting outside the Cathedral in Porto waiting for our friends to arrive we had some time. I spent some of that time in prayer then I began to think about the questions I had. I could clearly see that the lighter idea would help. I had not expected that. Talk about a light coming on. All of a sudden while thinking about this I had the sudden urge to check my phone messages. I did.

Robbie Holders wife was asking me about a letter of encouragement that I had sent out a few years earlier. I had designed a Vet Church logo background and wrote letters to a bunch of Veterans and other folks encouraging them to keep on keeping on and to see the beauty and value of their lives. She took a picture of the letter and sent it to me. I was floored. The Spirit of God was sending me a letter. In the past I had many times joked, “God hasn’t sent me a postcard in the mailbox.” But here God was sending me a text message with a picture of a letter. Vet Church would go on. And then there we were all together walking our separate Caminos.

I’ll get into the walking and what happened with that in Part 2. It was an epic beginning to an epic journey.  Life is an epic Camino.

I wonder about life. I also attempt to stop wondering and start wandering. Captain Ron pointed out that if things are gonna happen then they’re gonna happen out there. We gotta go. That is part of the great commission. Going is not always going to far from where you are. Sometimes ya just need to go next door or across town. Maybe it’s a meeting, a service, a concert.  Maybe it’s a church, a bar, or a hospital. Maybe it’s to a a nursing home to visit someone lonely, to a school to see a teacher who tried to help you, or to see a friend who you haven’t seen in a long time. Go. Go, do it. Follow your heart. Follow the Holy Ghost. And I can promise you this the journey will be EPIC.