Day 18: Sweet Nothings

Today, we are HALF WAY TO SANTIAGO!!!  After today, everyday we will be closer to the end than to the beginning--tis bittersweet, but definitely good.  So far, so good, onward and upward!

We even got to start the day, Saturday (the day of Our Lady!) with Our Lady! Good morning, sweet Mom!

Today was a 26 kilometer day, which is a relatively long day.  Usually, our days are around 20km.  That extra 6 seems small by itself, but tacked onto the first 20, plus the hotter part of the day, plus backpack and boots, the extra 6 can seem more like an extra 12.  As you might imagine, I was expecting a difficult day was ahead of us.

The walk today was difficult, but surprisingly pleasant.  The weather was perfect.  Usually we pass through a lot of little villages along the way, but in the 6 hours we walked today, we only passed through 2; the way today was void of civilization, even of dilapidated civilization.   There was nothing along the way, but it was a sweet nothing--look:

Mary had us covered in her bright blue, heavenly mantle all morning long--and it was a long morning.  She walked with us, and her company brought with it notes of joy in the sweet nothings we passed by.  Everyday passed with Our Lady is a good day, even hard days like this one.  And, at the end of the day, this sweet Lady brought us to the sweetest joy--Jesus, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Mary, pass everyday with us, so we may know your joy, the joy of a heart that belongs to Jesus, and that we may know your Son as you do--most intimately.

+JMJ+