My days on the Camino are filled with stories. That’s really what I do all day, I walk and I listen. I’ve listened to people grieve for the loved ones they have lost, teach me songs in French, tell me folktales from their home countries. I learn new things every day and, of course, I share a thing or two along the way. But most importantly, I have become a better listener than ever before.
During an intense discussion on the road today, my dear friend Mundo, from Mexico, compared life to skydiving and it’s a thought I really wanted to share.
Imagine you’re going skydiving.
You’re in the airplane high above beautiful fields. The door opens and you feel the power of the wind as you stand at edge, ready to jump.
You teeter for a moment, swaying in and out, until you finally decide to go for it and jump.
You’re falling through the air, picking up speed, slightly terrified but absolutely exhilarated. The adrenaline is rushing through your body and you are free. You are happy.
You’re nearing the ground and it’s time to pull open your parachute. You pull and you pull.
Your parachute doesn’t open.
You keep falling, terrified. But then you remember you have an emergency parachute. So you pull on the emergency parachute.
It doesn’t open either.
And there you are, falling. You are falling, and nothing will save you.
You have a choice now.
Do you spend your last moments kicking and screaming, blaming God and being angry?
Or do you smile as enjoy the ride?
Either way the choice is yours.
The Camino must be quite amazing for thinking and learning more about other people. One of the trips that’s on my bucket list for sure!
Yes, it’s definitely a trip you cannot miss! Xoxo