Father Steven goes on a long walk each fall. It is a walk on the Santiago, or rather the Camino de Nantiago. There are many routes on this walk. They all end up at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. People have done this walk in all times of the year. Reasons for doing the walk varies greatly. Father Steven’s reason is to take a dozen or so veterans to address the moral harm they have suffered from. He leads them in prayer to start the day. They walk the route for the day. They reflect on their problems. A psychologist is with them for those who would like more secular advice or counseling.
On the Camino walk they cover 12 to 20 kilometers each day. 1 was working up to a half marathon. While l think of it as a 13 mile event it also can be thought of as a 21 kilometer walk. I was almost there when health issues braked me to a stop. I am working on getting back up to the half marathon. It is harder this time. However, and St. Augustine or Diogenes said originally “it is solved by walking.” And so I do each day.
This all comes to mind after a walk (mostly) to the library to pickup Hrling Kagge’s book Walking (One Step At A Time).It was recommended to me by Father Steven. Nothing was said about the book. He just texted me the title. It has a quote up front (what are those things called?) it is from Laurie Anderson from “Walking and Falling”
You’re walking. And you don’t always realize it.
But you’re always falling.
With each step, you fall forward slightly.
And then catch yourself from falling . . .
I seem to be falling a lot. Falling as I try to do it again and again.
— MichaelRpdx :: ih3k :: 2022-08-01