Man Plans and God Laughs, Part Two

We live our lives everyday, thinking that today will be like yesterday, tomorrow like today.  I wonder how much of life we miss, not considering that things can be different. Certainty is not for the lives of men and women.  While we do have choices and can influence the course of our lives, we do not steer the ship.  I like to think with analogies; one of my favorites is that life is like a river.  We are in the water, being carried along.  We should not complain if we scrape over the rocks, we made the choice to swim or to drift.  And so it is.

Before Lori and I walked our first Camino I was faced with significant health challenges when I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica.  I would never have admitted that the PMR threatened my Camino, but of course it did.  I could barely walk a block, let alone across Spain.  As it was, while it didn't stop us from going, I believe it played a part in slowing me down. But only a part.  Near the end of the Camino I felt that there must be something else at play, I just didn't seem to be getting as strong as would be expected with so much walking.

So today I face new challenges to my health, known, unknown, and imagined.  I can't see where the river will take me, good or bad.  I can only try and swim, as best as I can, with hope, determination, and faith. 

The Camino calls me, as ever it does. I will go, God willing.  When I get there I will walk as all pilgrims do, one step at a time.  I will never stop walking it.

Excited!

How excited am I?!?  I am so anticipating my upcoming return to the Camino, 283 days from now.  But, how excited am I that today I bought a ticket for my oldest daughter Andrea to go with me!  I can not think of a better experience for us to share.  I wish that my youngest, Alison, and my dear wife Lori could accompany us, but they have work commitments that they cannot escape.

This is going to be wonderful.