April 1-8 2016
Life on the Camino has been busy this past week. After six days with the community and hostel (albergue) with LF, I rode all day on the bus to my next destination towards the beginning of the Camino de Santiago. The bus route went along the northern coast of Spain, and there is a less developed and more rugged Camino path here as well, known as the Camino del Norte:
http://www.caminosantiagodecompostela.com/camino-de-santiago-del-norte/
Why are People Walking the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St James)
The Camino de Santiago has become very popular over the past fifteen years, with more than 250,000 people walking either the entire section or parts of it each year, mostly from early April to the end of October. Many are the reasons people walk this - for some it is leisure and a relaxing holiday. Many enjoy the simpler lifestyle of this kind of 'tourism' but many also walk it for religious and spiritual reasons. It is not uncommon for people to say they have had a strong desire to come here, but not knowing why. For others, they need to take time off to be by themselves away from family and friends. They have questions about what to do with their future or questions about life - more of the younger adults seem to fit into this category.
Who is St. James and which Camino did James really walk?
It is interesting to discover that many of the people walking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) do not know who James is. The James of the Camino is one of the original twelve followers of Jesus Christ. We know who these people are as their names are listed in the biographies of the life of Jesus that can be found in the Bible. James had a brother called John and both were fishermen. They were both invited by Jesus to follow him and become his 'students'. They were with him for over three years until his death on the cross and for the forty days after his rising back to life from the dead, before he went to heaven. So, James is one of the first people who came to know who Jesus was and he walked in the Way of Jesus.
Walking the Way of Jesus
Walking the Camino in Spain can be a great opportunity to slow down in life and to encourage people of this generation to consider who Jesus is and if He really is the answer to life. When Jesus says he is 'the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one can come to Father God in Heaven except through him', what does he mean? Is it possible that people can actually get to know Jesus, to discover that a personal relationship can be had with him?
Recognizing Jesus or not?
One of the stories immediately following the rising of Jesus from the dead is about two men who happened to meet him on the road (camino or path) to a village called Emmaus. These men were discussing with each other about all the events about Jesus and what had just happened the previous few days, where Jesus had been arrested and then crucified and put to death on the cross. While walking, Jesus came up and walked along with them, but they "were kept from recognizing Him".
Why at this point were these men not able to recognize who Jesus? Did Jesus have his hands and feet covered so they could not see the holes in them that came from the nails that had been driven through them when he was nailed to the cross? Was there something different initially about the physical appearance of Jesus that kept them from recognizing who He was? Or where they were too focused on their discussion and feelings that they simply did not 'see'? Or did Jesus Himself in some miraculous and intentional way keep them from recognizing him for a while?
Jesus entered the discussion, of course, fully knowing what had happened, but clearly not letting on to these men that he did know what they were talking about. He then went on to explain and intepret to them the things that had already been written down about himself (the Christ), through what we know today are the books of the Old Testament from the Bible. This all happened while he walked along with them on the way to Emmaus
This being my third visit and season on the Camino de Santiago, and having interacted with hundreds of 'pilgrims', and hearing amazing numerous stories from people sharing, it seems that many do not seem to recognize Jesus behind what many others would see as "God - moments" or "God-incidents. Perhaps further along the Camino or after they return home, they do 'see' Jesus? Many of these walkers may be like these same men on the Emmaus path, initially not being able to 'see' but perhaps further along in time and 'on the journey of life' Jesus does make himself recognized?
So, is it possible to recognize who Jesus is? Is he real? Is He alive? Who do people say he is? Who do you say he is?
TO BE CONTINUED....
