Climbed on a double decker touring bus and headed out to Finisterre at 9:00 this morning. I seriously wish I could take one of these on my trip home. They’re way more comfortable than the airplanes. I realized as we were pulling out of the lot, that I hadn’t been in an automobile since I bused out to Astorga, on September 6th. Nothing particularly deep about that, just realized how much I’ve been physically engaged in the world, and how nice that’s been. It really changes the pace of life. Interestingly, I noticed that everything that needed to get done every day, did. The gentle rocking of the coach was very relaxing, and  I nodded in and out for most of the trip. When I came fully alert, we were just arriving in Finisterre. I discovered that my hotel was on the outskirts of town, on the opposite side of where I wanted to be. I grabbed a cab (only because of my suitcase) headed over and checked in. Suited up for the last time and got ready to head out. The lady at the reception desk, showed me a gate across the street and told me to go through the gate and head toward the beach. I discovered a flagstone sidewalk that paralleled the beach all the way into town. Very nice way to start this walk. Once I got into town, I had to find the trail, but this town was so small I could see where I needed to be and just headed up until I got to the road. It was about a 5km walk to the lighthouse, which is the official end of the trail. Behind the lighthouse, you can walk down the rocks and get closer to the “beach”. It’s actually the place where the ocean meets the rocks. I went about half way down, grabbed a nice rock to sit on and just sat in the sun and tried to take in the vastness of the view. When the pilgrimage started in the 13th century, before Christopher Columbus set sail for the new world, people literally believed this was the end of the earth. Sitting here, I can see why. You can see a bit of the land on the other side of the huge cove that Finisterre sits in, but the rest of what you see is water. To the horizon, water. In every direction in front of you, water.

Legend has it that when the early pilgrims got here, they burned their clothes, took a bath in the Atlantic, put on new clothes, and turned around to walk home. No tour buses. Quite a few people bring something to burn here. You can see little fire pits all over the rocks where different groups have honored this tradition. I didn’t bring anything to burn, but I decided to leave something here. I decided to leave my fear here. My fear that I will shame my family and my God by behave cowardly in my time of dying. My fear that Nancy and Erin will suffer without me there. My fear that Erin will not achieve all she’s capable of achieving without me here to encourage her (my greatest fear). I pulled those fears into one ball, laid it on the cliffs of Finisterre, stood up, and walked away from them. I’m sure I’ll have to perform this ritual in my heart and mind many times between now and the time ritual has no more meaning for me, but I vow to do it as often as necessary.    

 Two thoughts today from the two books of Wisdom I cherish.  

Chapter 16    

Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return.    

Each separate being in the universe returns to the  common source. Returning to the source is serenity. If you don’t realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow.

When you realize where you come from, you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, dignified as a king. Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.  

James 3:17,18   “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of goodness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Brian Jones, Director of Hospice and Palliative Care programs for St. Elizabeth Healthcare writes: “I’ve worked in the hospice field for nearly 10 years, both in direct patient care and as an administrator. I feel very “called” to the mission we embrace, caring for patients at the most vulnerable time in their life, interacting with families and helping patients “die well” on their terms and in comfortable, familiar surroundings. You have to have a passion for this work, to do this job. Those who do not, usually do not last very long and move on to something else.”

If you would like to help St. Elizabeth Hospice Center, go to the Help St. E page, and at the bottom of the page is a link that will take you to St. E’s page.  In the “other” box you can put $5 and directly under that box please drill down and choose Walk with E. Your gift helps this amazing organization continue to do work that is vitally important and will only continue to become more necessary.

If you live in the greater Cincinnati area consider coming out next weekend and walking with us from PeeWee’s restaurant.  PeeWee’s is located at 2325 Anderson Rd. off of Buttermilk Pike. Take Buttermilk west off the interstate. There is a BP station at the corner of Anderson. Turn away from the BP, and PeeWee’s is just over the top of the hill on the right. I will post the details for this walk again tomorrow.

Buen Camino