santiago

Today I arrived in Santiago. There is an affection in me for this city that is hard to explain, but it feels like another home town. It's streets don't follow any true pattern and you can find yourself a little disoriented if you wander without paying attention to how many times you've turned left or right, but by this trip I pretty much know where I am, and most importantly how to get to St James Cathedral.
I am staying at the same hotel that Emily and I did in 2007 and Katie and I didin 2009. I love it, it has maybe 12 rooms and its very close to the cathedral. The rooms are cozy and perfect for reading and napping.
To earn a compostella you must walk at least the last 100 km. I made a conscious decision after the sidetrip to Sarragosa that when i returned to the way of St Francis, that i would stick to the towns before the last 100k's. Knowing that a certificate of completion wouldn't be mine even though I had walked more than enough. Did that bother me? Not in the least. The last 100k's are a lot busier and by the amount of pilgrims that were at Mass today and roaming around the streets, I am even more assured that for me, the decision was right. There are so many more than I've ever seen!
Sitting for quite awhile before Mass, without a thought to do so,it was like a parade of all of you that have been in my prayers, each name following after another and I kept thinking, my memory isnt what it used to be there's no way I'm going to remember everyone. But your names and faces just kept coming! Such is the power of prayer! It may never be ours to know this side of heaven why we've been put in each other's lives. But I do know your prayers for me and mine for you have strengthened me in every aspect of my life.
There was a woman that stopped me early on in Pamplona, she was probably 70 or so, and she wanted to know if I was walking alone. When I said yes she broke out in a smile and patted my arm and turned back down the sidewalk. I thought to myself, the right thing to have said, okay mimed, would have been to say no and point to heaven but I think she knew that was what was in my heart. Plus all of you as usual take your turns walking beside me. And it is with much gratitude that I thank God for such family and friends as you, fellow pilgrims on this journey through life.