Have you ever had one of those days where you just wake up in irritation? Everything seems to frustrate you and you feel like you could blow up at any moment? Today was not one of those days… In the beginning.
On the Camino de Santiago our team usually walks about 20-30k (12-18miles) per day. We have to be out the door by 8am at the latest but we usually leave by 6:30. Today we decided was Sabbath so we would only walk 15k and rest.
I was excited, 15k was nothing compared to the 30k we had done the day before. So I woke up at 7:50am, heck yes. I took my time getting ready and stopped for coffee with my teammate, Jackie, before we left town…. This is where it all began.
The coffee given was more grounds than liquid (I may be exaggerating but still). I took my coffee back and was given a new one. A stray cat (or trash kitty as we call them) was very interested in my coffee so I was fighting it off the whole time I sat there.
We eventually went to leave but then realized I may have left something back at the alburgue (something I tend to do quite often). So then I walked all the way back. Finally once done, we were on our way.
Now the great thing about walking the camino is the beautiful landscape around us. We walk through city, prairie, forrests, vineyards etc. It’s wonderful! However, today.. we walked alongside the highway… All day. ALL DAY.. nothing but flatlands and highway .. the scenery never changed and frankly I started to become irritated.
I mean everything was irritating me… One of my headphones quit working.. so I was hearing my pack squeak with every step. My throat was dry and scratchy (due to the cold weather from the day before). My hat kept sliding down on my face and my long sleeves kept falling down my arm even though I had tried time and time again to roll them up. Every little thing was getting under my skin. Every time I looked up the city we were heading to was no where in site. Until eventually we saw it.. the city. It was far away but it was within sight! Yessss! So we walked and walked until we became close enough to see it was the wrong city, I looked further and saw that we still had 6k to go!
I almost lost it but I held it together!!! And so we walked on.. no change in scenery, just walking next to a highway. After what felt like days another city was in our view, this time the right one! Hallelujah! With new energy, I pushed on, trying to ignore the pain in my feet and legs. Every time I looked up the city was further away.. was I hallucinating.. were we even moving.. I was so frustrated at this point that I began to pray. “God show me something, why am I wasting my time walking through an area that is so boring. Give me some flowers or something.” I open my eyes only to see dead roots, dirt and grass. Great.
So because my frustration has been growing this entire time.. I decide to slow down, maybe enjoy my time walking, try and change my perspective. But of course, as if on que, we were stopped and asked to take a family photo. I was angry… how could they even think to ask us to take a picture when were trying to enjoy the boring scenery… Once again, I almost lost it because of something ridiculously minute but Jackie was there to save the day. She made some awkward conversation, she happily took the picture and we were on our way. Thank goodness for jackie…
Now, I don’t know if y’all realize this, but us Americans are known around the globe as entitled, fat, lazy people.. something I have learned while sitting at a table full of people from around the world.
So jackie mentioned how awkward the photo situation was. Why didn’t I engage in conversation, now Americans would be perceived as awkward. Well, better awkward than angry I suppose. We trudged on.
Once at the alburgue one of my teammates, Wade.. oh poor innocent Wade. He asked when we were meeting for the day. I, being unstable at this point, told him we wouldn’t be meeting due to it being our Sabbath. He then had more questions.. luckily jackie was there to save the day, she rushed me out the door knowing that if Wade had asked me one more question I was going to lose it. Jackie led me to a coffee shop and we had a nice snack and a drink…
After some serious thought I found myself asking the Lord for forgiveness. I was looking at his people and his creation as if it wasn’t enough for me. What a mess I was.
I say all this to say. Thank the Lord for Jackie! She had to hear me complain all day long, deal with the petty little frustrations and still was able to encourage me and save Wade from a unwarranted tackle.
The Lord has been showing me so many things! It has been great to share these moments with others and to see just how much a positive attitude can change the atmosphere.
I love this girl and am beyond grateful for her. If y’all feel led to give (know this will help me keep my sanity) you can donate through her blog, JackieRiopelle.theworldrace.org
