Maureen wrote the nicest comment on Caminoheads a couple of days ago. It was a little personal so I asked her permission to post it here. I was so moved by Maureen’s words and sentiments. You can sense the quality here. Thanks M.
Comment:
Hi Phil
Just want to say what a blessing you are to so many! I love reading your blog and continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers! You keep us all focused on what is really important in our daily lives. We are all pilgrims among pilgrims.
I wanted to share about a very dear friend that is currently walking the Camino in Spain. She left on September 20, & will be gone till November 2. Her name is Betsy. She is one of the most inspiring and courageous women I know. We taught together at the same elementary school. When we first met, she was celebrating being a breast cancer survivor. Her favorite color is purple & she decorated her clsssroom with that color (even sometimes colored her hair) as a bold proclamation of her fight! She walked the 60 mile Avon Breast Cancer walk from Santa Barbara to LA, she still surfs, recently hiked the Grand Canyon, and it is clear that she lives life to the fullest, having stared down death! Her daughter struggled with high school foreign language classes and took sign language as an alternative. As a show of support, Betsy took classes with her daughter & went on to get another degree in sign language & transferred out of elementary school to teach high school sign language classes. In the past few years, Betsy has had many set-backs. Her husband left her for a younger woman, & her breast cancer returned after 7 years. She fought back in her “usual sometimes irreverent style”! At a Christmas party with a group of teachers, she proudly wore a t-shirt that proclaimed: “Yes these are fake, my real ones tried to kill me!” But her biggest battle was still yet to come. She retired a year ago, and had just visited her son last October who was a Maritme sailor. She was so proud of him & posted a picture of the visit with her 2 sons on Facebook. Three days later, Jack was killed riding his bike home from dinner. He was struck by a speeding car & killed instantly. It was incomprehensible to see her very next Facebook post with a picture of Betsy & Jack holding their surfboards & Betsy writing: Do not Rest In Peace my son, ride the Big One”. She celebrated Jack’s life with a “paddle-out” in Laguna Beach. I last saw Betsy at Christmas and she mentioned that a friend had been talking about walking the Camino in Spain. Though I have not walked the Camino, I shared my story of surrendering my son’s alcoholism & ultimate homelessness, meeting Annie & you through our Curch’s Camino in Lake Forest & how life changing it has been for me! Betsy wrote right before she left for Spain that “apparently God wanted her to walk in Spain alone” because her friend that was supposed to go, lost her home in the Florida hurricane! I KNEW that she would never be alone & praying that she would feel that amazing awareness on her Camino. She just posted: “the cat is out of the bag; I am spreading Jack’s ashes”. This brought tears to my eyes & goosebumps; reminiscent of Martin Sheen in “The Way”. I just had to write & ask for your prayers & perhaps you would like to mention her on your blog. Buen Camino Betsy!
Sincerely, Maureen
(a fellow pilgrim from Santiago De Compostela Parish in Lake Forest)
See what I mean? Just pure quality there in and around those words. There Maureen, Caminoheads worldwide will pray for your Betsy and be inspired by her great story.
Our world may seem chaotic and scary but our hearts are moving in the right direction. This is where the relevant work is taking place at this time. Realize that, hold on to it.
Love you, Felipe.
Splendid, inspirational. Thanks for sharing.
I wonder if we could see some pics of Betsy as she walks?
Gusto. Where does unrelenting gusto come from?
Serious question.
I need more.
Lots more.
See you soon, Buddy.
Steve-O ~ shipping out a monster box of gusto as we speak. Hope to see you soon.
Thank you to Phil and Maureen for those sentiments. This blog is a ray of light in this world. Phil, is transparent & vulnerable, through which he illustrates how he cherishes the sacredness in life in the daily tasks we all face. There is no need for artifice. The beauty comes through because it is not masked. Thanks for giving me this ray of light today.
Jean ~ you are welcome and we will continue. Felipe.x
What an encouraging story! Thank you for sharing it with all of us, and the good words about Phil. I am so happy to have met him and his beloved and to have shared steps, tapas, and conversation with them.
The fact that he can bless us with his daily thoughts from a place far away (I am in Virginia) is also life-giving and encouraging. I have used his statement about God loving all of us and there is nothing we can do about it almost daily since he posted it. Buen Camino!
Ron ~ stay tuned. Hello to Ann. We will continue. Felipe.
The story Maureen shared about Betsy touches my heart and my soul and yes brought tears and goosebumps!
Maureen is also a beacon of light for everyone in her life! She flew to Seattle three times from orange county to help me through a devastating cancer I had. And I use the word had as I am recovered today, and for who knows how long, it’s in Gods hands. Because of Maureen and another sister in orange county I was able to retire and move south with my sister’s donation of a garage carriage house for me to build a studio apartment. They gave their hearts and a home to me and I will be forever grateful and now try to make it my mission to help anyone and everyone who needs me.
Phil, she turned me onto the Camino and you are part of my ongoing life now and I will be indebted and grateful to Maureen! I will be visiting Seattle for the Thanksgiving holidays with family and friends and I hope to visit your walk the Camino…
Michelle Murphy
Dear Phil,
I was about to go back to finish some work, but I read the post in my phone and couldn’t help but turning on the computer again to thank you for sharing Maureen’s comment. And to Maureen, for sharing her own story, and for letting us all know about Betsy.
When I came back from the Camino, when people asked me what was the experience about, I said it was great, but I didn’t know exactly what was that, despite a few things were easier to decide when I was back. However, with time, I realized the Camino was about becoming aware that there is beauty in the world, and it comes in the form of landscapes and hearts&souls that have made something wonderful out of themselves. That is what I see when I read Maureen talking about her friend Betsy, when I read Betsy’s story and when I read your blog.
And this is somehow the whole story around the Japanese culture that once a pot is broken, it is put together again with gold. Before, certainly might have been flawless, but once broken and put together again with care, dedication, attention, and patience, it becomes a jewel.
That is what I pray I may be able to do with my life, and this is why I am SO grateful to visit your blog and hang around so many beautiful hearts.
Praying for Betsy, her son, Maureen and yourself, and all the pilgrims along the way.
Love,
Cris
Cris ~ you will be here soon and we will take the time to talk. Godspeed, Felipe.x
Wonderful letter. Glad you could share it !
Nancy ~ Good one, huh? People that hang around this blog are incredible, you too. Felipe.x
Praying for Betsy on her journey. Thankful that we can all be changed. That we can be alongside each other as God is always alongside us…
Michelle ~ yes, thank you. You have boiled down a lot into a very clear statement. Thanks for coming by the other day, do it again, Felipe.x
Thank you for this site, Phil. For your wisdom, and for the opportunity for all of us to share it with you! Prayers and love for all who have great challenges!
❤️ Michelle
Just. So. Beautiful. All of it. You. Maureen. Betsy. All of us!!! Much love to you Felipe, and many prayers are speeding their way to make Betsy’s Camino exactly what is required at every moment. Muchas Gracias a todos. <3
Annie ~ all pretty amazing. Felipe.x