Reflections on my Camino Journey From my Hospital Room
When I was at the hospital emergency room last Sunday night, I was grieving the fact that my Camino was over. I have had a lot of time in this hospital room to think about a lot of things. For 3 days I had no phone, no kindle, no music, and didn't understand anything anyone said. Not exactly the best of circumstances, but it worked. I spent a lot of time praying, and personally implored the Blessed Mother to be with me, and to hold me to help me get through the painful treatments. Although I was alone, I never once felt lonely. I actually believe that Jesus and Mary were both in the room with me.
The other thing that was surprising, was that I never got bored. I never turned on the tv, not even to watch soccer.
I spent a lot of time in the quiet, just trying to open my mind and listen.
While walking the 200 miles that I completed on the Camino, I had always hoped that I would get to the point where I wouldn't care about what time it was, or now many miles remained until our destination for that day. Since I never could get past the foot pain, I never got to that point.
They say that the Camino is divided into 3 stages, physical, mental, and spiritual. It is also emphasized by those who have been on the Camino, that each person's Camino journey is his/her own, and therefor different from anyone else's.
With my stay in the hospital, Nuestra Señora de Regla, I have come to realize that my Camino did not end in the ER of that hospital, it just took a different turn. Yesterday, before Jim arrived, I realized that I didn't care about time at all. I also decided that my philosophy would be "expect nothing, appreciate everything." The 2 main things that I have gotten out of my stay here, is that I will work hard to be a better listener, and to do a better job of clearly communicating what I want.
Lastly, before Jim and I began our trip, I had always wanted to stay at the Parador in León, that was featured in the movie, "The Way". Hmmm, a private room, people at my beck and call, not what I had in mind, but it definitely works. This time spent in the hospital has been my spiritual Camino, and this hospital has been my parador. I will work hard to incorporate what I have learned here into my habits upon returning home.