Don't hop on the bus through the mesate

[Harry C. Dumville]

>    While walking the meseta, a bird lifted and refocused my spirits, as well, one very hot, windy early July day this past summer.  It was becoming very difficult walking, with the beating heat and toward the end of my walking day.  A camino friend and I were  doing our best to distract each other, when a bird, chirping furiously, flew above us and, flapping furiously against the wind, continued to chirp above us for at least 30 seconds, at which point it ceased flapping, letting the wind currents sweep it up and away.  That little bird sounded like a cheerleader yelling out, "Go, go, go!  You can do it!  It isn't much further!  Don't give up . . . keep going!"  Amazingly, it gave us renewed energy and quickness of step to our end-of-day lodging!

Also, one of my greatest revelations was on the meseta, where the road
went seemingly endlessly straight ahead and behind, no crossroads, just
fields of grain going forever in each direction.  Far off to the north
were the mountains, with excitement and adventure written all over
them.  Ah, to be there instead!  Then it hit me that that was exactly
where I was.  Walking the Camino was, for me, the high adventure that
the mountains represented and that something as amazing as walking the
adventure of the Camino had its own tedious parts.  I began looking
beyond the  sameness that was becoming monotonous.  I noticed the birds
more, each wildflower (especially the poppies) lifted my spirits, I was
more aware of and appreciated the breeze.  It was at that point that I
realized how very much the scenario was like life itself.   Sometimes
we're on a path (a job or illness, anything you feel locked into at the
time, while wishing for it to be different) and there is no way to break
the pattern, the tedium (boredom).  At the time we can't make any
changes, it's just the way it is for us.  We can see all those other
exciting things we would rather be doing, if we could only be THERE,
instead of here.  But we are locked into 'here', for now, and 'there'
isn't really any different, since, invariably, it will have it's own
tedious parts.  So we're best off noticing the details and small
offerings of 'here', living fully, right where we are at that moment.
We will appreciate all the various parts of the process (walking, in the
case of the Camino) all the more!

Sorry that this is long, Linda.  I have been a member on the listserv
for a year and this is the first time I have responded.  Other people
always seem to ask my questions and have given great answers to other
questions being asked, but these two situations couldn't have been
contributed by anyone else!  I am still, after 7 months, making
discoveries about my Camino experience (Pamplona to Finnisterre).  What
a thrill!

Ultreya,
Nancy Dumville
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin