Yesterday we arrived and visited Mission La Purisma. This mission feels like how I imagine a mission would really be. Missions were centers of industry. This mission is completely run by the state. Not the Catholic Church. Mission La Purisma offered us more charity and respect for what we are doing than any Diocese connected church has so,far.
We are most appreciative of the met charitable people we met. Thank you Ann Boggess for taking the time to help us work out routes. Thank you Rosewitha for buying us replacement Credenciales. Then,si cr God knew it was our 15 year wedding anniversary the gifts continued. My mother-in-law, Janice Jones for joined us and paid for a hotel room for us. Then we reconnected with old friends, Tony Kozumplik who prepared us a BBQ dinner and offered us lodging for the following night. Visited Jen Wrink, another old friend who poured me a generous glass of Pinot noir. We chatted and caught up with one another. An all around blessed Wedding Anniversary!
The next day we commenced on our pilgrimage. Janice was with us for the day. She had planned to walk 6 miles with us. We planned a route the night before with the help of new friends. As soon as we started our route was foiled by road construction. We had to walk 2.25 miles around the road construction. Apparently you can go around "it". We headed back up Harris Grade. We reached the six mile mark and called an Uber. After a few cancels, someone finally agreed to come get us. Gerald and Iboth began feeling ill. We choose to Uber back as well. Besides everyone had told us not to walk Harris Grade as it was, too dangerous. Between road construction, warnings, not being able to walk too, far with a guest walker, and now feeling ill; I took it all as sign that it was not meant for us to walk this section.
We returned to Lompoc. Another Barbecue was planned as a going away party for a new mutual friend of our host. I observed that our celebration with friends coincided with the Feast day of Juniperra Serra. Without planning or trying, we indeed had a feast on the Feast of the Patron Saint of this pilgrimage.
Pilgrimage is about transformation. My pilgrimage of the missions is transforming into a pilgrimage of friends- new, old and rekindled. I knew I was called to walk. I knew God had a message for me. I knew Pilgrimage would make the space and time in my life to hear the messages. I have received many messages. I have heeded them. I am still listening. Walking. Learning.
On Day 23 we had breakfast at Ellen's Pancake house. I received two messages there. The first was from our very chipper waitress. I complimented her on her cheeriness. She replied "Life is too, short. Be happy. Make others happy. If you can't do that, then I feel sorry for you. Just smile and help others smile." Great advice.
The second message started here but was received on the walk. I picked up the local paper. I read an article aloud to Gerald about how Tourists teach us patience. Today when Gerald's mother joined us for the walk, it reminded me of how annoyed I was by the tourist walkers who picked up the trail in Burgos. We had been walking for weeks. We had worked through s series of physical ailments and emotional breaks. Now here these people were, haunting around taking pictures of every flower, sporting pinwheels on their daypacks, and using mochilla services and car escorts. They tested my patience and I had to force myself to not judge them for their whimsy. Camino is serious, right?!
Well, here was my mother in law being a tourist on our Camino. She was giggly. Talking loudly on her phone playing games on her phone. Taking picture of every flower. I had to keep reminding her not walk out in the street. I recognized the lesson immediately: Tourists teach us patience.
She was so excited to be with us. So happy. We were in the determined mind set of silent walking. I struck up conversation occasionally. I knew she was in a totally different place than us. And that is okay. But it is hard to have patience with people in s different place than us.
After the six mile walk,she wanted to go sightseeing. I really wanted to accompany her. But my body said no. We returned to our host's home and slept all afternoon. In the evening the feast started. I wanted to visit and go places. But my body said no. I was content to sit and let festivities unfold around me. It was a blessed feast day.
A new friend, Tom offered to give us a ride around the grade in the morning. We accepted and we are going to pick up the trail in Orcutt.
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