Whispers from the Camino
Following pilgrims on the Camino
It was my executive coach who first noticed that I had gone strangely silent. Part of my preparation for coaching is writing a prep sheet where I name celebrations, progress on action plans and challenges and opportunities before me. In the weeks following my walking of the 500-mile Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain last fall this particular adventure just didn’t show up in my prep sheet or our conversations.
She asked me, “Brian, you just completed this monumental physical feat. Where is it?” I had to admit that it just wasn’t showing up in my thoughts, in my journaling, and in my conversations with others. It was as if I had simply set it aside once I landed back in the States.
That is not completely true. However, in the past, after I have completed one of my more adventurous pilgrimages, I can’t stop writing and talking about them. The processing starts as soon as the walking or pedaling stops.
Packing up the essentials for a 6-month housesitting gig.
That wasn’t true this time. I do think I know the source of this strange eight-month silence. When I returned from Spain (and another two weeks doing pilgrimage research in England), I only had three days to recover from jet lag, pack my bags and make a move to Eastern Oregon for a short-term interim contract.
The contract was only half-time, but I discovered that my soul and my emotions just couldn’t keep up with the amount of transition. I had time, but I was in a very precarious financial position and my mind was pitched toward figuring out my future rather than processing the past (as in the Camino).
That is a short introduction to simply say that the time has finally come to process the profound experience of the Camino from eight months ago. Even though I am once again in a temporary position in South Dakota, it feels permanent enough to relax into myself again. I’m not all tied up in knots worrying about my future!
Capturing a fellow pilgrim on the horizon at sunrise.
Starting next Monday I will begin posting a blog series under the title “Whispers from the Camino.” I use whispers because I can’t say that I had one major revelation on the pilgrimage. But daily and sometimes hourly smaller revelations, in the form of a thought or a feeling or a new encounter, would emerge. I captured those in my daily journal just for this purpose: One day I knew I would return to the experience and begin reflecting on the five weeks of walking and sharing it with you.
I will admit that it was one of you who finally broke through the silence. I was moving this direction in recent weeks, but still couldn’t commit to writing this first blog. Finally, a faithful reader and friend wrote, “Hey Brian! I’ve missed your blog. You okay?”
That’s what did it! I knew I had been strangely absent. I also knew that the long silence born of too much transition was coming to an end. I knew it was time to write again and a friendly push was all I needed to take the final step.
Look for “Whispers from the Camino” in your email next Monday.
It does feel good to be back.