Pain and Suffering in Religion-Jennifer

[Elizabeth Boylston-Morris]

Jennifer,
Somehow I cannot correlate the Camino and suffering.
In my first pilgrimage, in 2000, I should have been much more than worried and apprehensive: I was alone on a bicycle ill-suited to the purpose;  I did not speak a word of anything but English; I had not done nearly enough reading to prepare me, even minimally, for the daunting geographical challenges, and, just before O Cebreiro I lost my maps!
And yet, at every turn, I expected, and found, assistance and encouragement both spiritual and physical. Before the formidable ascent to O Cebreiro, with the end of the day drawing near, a young Italian couple on a motorcycle stopped when they saw me sitting all alone by the side of the road; through body language and much gesturing they understood my situation, offered their help, and towed me up the mountain, -to the bemusement of passing-by motorists-, just before nightfall.
To this very day I don't know why I wasn't fearful; I knew that help would come.
I think that my Faith had strenghtened significantly on the way from SJPP. I am a Christian, but not a Catholic. From the beginning of the Camino the perception that this was a religious pilgrimage became unavoidable.  Not finding any Episcopalians along the way I just did what I saw the other pilgrims doing; I ducked regularly into the  roadside churches for a prayer, bought and carried a rosary, and crossed myself (which I had never, never, done before) when I passed in front of those stone crucifixes that mark road-crossings.
After a while I just seemed to know that all would be all right and devoted my thoughts, my feelings and my energies to the wonderments of the Camino.
I've envied someone I know who is absolutely delighted in her Catholicism.  When I have expressed admiration for her faith she has told me that she does not have any faith because she has never doubted the love of Jesus.
The assurance of such loving protection came to me in the Camino, very softly and slowly, like morning dew.
I did not experience any suffering or pain in the Camino. In fact, when I reached the Cruz de Fierro I couldn't think of a sorrow to stone-leave on the mound.
What I did find in the Camino were joy and peace in many ways new to me until then.
Liz