Camino Change

Why am I doing a Camino? One thought that I have is that I do it because of change. I need to change. Change is important.

Here in Roermond Netherlands, there is a beautiful cathedral and an outlet mall. Guess which place has more people visiting. It’s a wild thing how places change. People change too. Once upon a time more people went to worship than to shop.

Moth and rust doth corrupt, things fall apart, the world turns. It’s a fact. It’s not a “my truth” or anything like that. It’s just truth.

People also change, another fact. Things like growing old are inevitable. Birthdays just can’t be stopped without finality of death. Yes, the mind can be changed as well. Recently heard a man say, “I used to be a Christian.” I don’t know what he is now but what a shift of thinking. He changed his mind, his heart, his direction.

Walking a Camino can be loads of fun. I enjoy it. And like everything else in life there are portions of the Camino that ain’t so fun.

I’m gonna focus on the fun and ignore the pain, and the otherwise not so “fun” parts. I’m focusing on the positive. I have done too much complaining in this life. So, no more of that for me. Let me share with y’all some of the fun parts of the Camino.

• Walking in the early morning with legs so cold that the air is like an ice bath plunge and my mind is clear to think, pray, worship and listen to the sounds of the world awakening.

• Listening to folks tell me stories and share about their lives. I just talked with a woman who told me about her life and the things that are underground here. (Very interesting indeed)

• Seeing beautiful buildings. The Cathedrals are my favorite. The one here in Roermond ND is beautiful. And I like the stores, small shops. My favorite stores, shops are the record stores. There was a great one in Heerlen Holland called Satisfaction Record shop. Makes me want to do a proper vinyl record. Maybe that is simple vanity on my part but maybe not.  I would like to do an all out proper record.

• The animals. I saw deer on my walk from Holland to Germany yesterday. I also had the opportunity to pet one of the coolest dogs I have ever met. His owner said, “He just wants to cuddle.” “He looked at me as if to say, hurry boy it’s waiting there for you.” (TOTO, Africa)

• The backpack- I can only carry so much stuff and thus the pack remains uncluttered. At home I have much stuff and much paper and much clothing.  Maybe too much although I think I understand the place and purpose of most of it. Here it is so different. The pair of pants I brought were destroyed by a dryer, so today I bought another pair. I’m throwing the old pair away and wearing the new pair tomorrow.

• The food. I’m all about how the EU has handled food. A Dutchman was telling me about all the stuff they don’t let into their country. It’s wild. One of my friend’s favorite drinks cannot even be purchased anywhere in Europe because it is so bad yet I see kids drinking it in America on a constant basis. I also like the culture of eating here. Community happens in restaurants. People sit and talk and eat. Food in Europe is truly an art form.

• I also really like the windows. How they open. How they vent. How they close and hide the light or allow the light to enter. European windows are the best.

So, I changed my location. I am changing my mind. I am changing some opinions. I like some of the changes that Camino creates. I like the opportunity it creates. Sometimes I need to change. What about you? Will you too change?