Thanks Annie for sending this out to me this morning. Day 15 of Annie’s book “Everyday Camino With Annie” is a little talk about graffiti on the Camino and she sent it out to me as a daily thought during Lent. Yea graffiti, and there is a lot of it and could be bothersome if you didn’t think about it a little. I know that in normal life it is an unwanted assault on our vision blossoming on the most unlikely and prominent surfaces. Need I go on?
But on the Camino it occurs mostly in places that are not prominent. As in, we want to tell you something but we don’t want to ruin the landscape. Ninety percent of the spray painted type that is there is hid away in underpasses were the Camino goes under a main road. Very polite really.

There are political topics like separatist sentiments. But for the most part it is Camino stuff for Caminoheads. “Buen Camino” is a biggie. I remember a huge “Buen Camino” along the trail fashioned from long strips of fallen tree bark that was a wonder. Heart shapes made out of stones were everywhere where there were stones which was everywhere. Crosses made out out every sort of debris were stuck in the ground in the middle of nowhere. I made some and repaired some. Large stone or concrete crosses were piled high with pebbles saying “I second that!” I remember sayings and poems in all languages. All sorts and brands of encouragements and thoughts on loving God or to make us better people or the world a better world. Nice. So, it sort of grows on you and you learn to accept it and appreciate it and maybe count on it.

So, back to Annie and “Ultriea et Suseia” which is a Latin saying meaning “Keep Going!” and ancient graffiti and an encouragement for tired and discouraged pilgrims of all times. Thanks Annie for the encouragement. Encourage each other, yes? Encouraging loves, Felipe.