On FaceBook this quote showed up,
“You have two lives.
The second one begins
when you realize
you only have one.” Confucius.
I have never zeroed in on a quote from this guy before but this one is speaking to me loud and clear. It is taking me back to writing to you about cancer. This blog is supposed to be about Cancer, Catholicism and the Camino. It is usually more often than not about the Camino in one form or another. But traveling backward to reach the cause of that you quickly find the other two of that trinity.
Catholicism for me could be termed a bridge between the Cancer and the Camino maybe. But the cancer diagnosis was the spark that started the whole thing ablaze. In various talks I have termed it a catalyst and that really is non judgmental. It can cause a change is all I am saying. And it’s usually seen as a big deal so it can easily cause a big change. But that change can be a good change as this quote points to.
That is an amazing phenomenon really. But it makes sense that we need a jarring announcement to shake us awake. It’s the old 2X4 to the head that sends us into another dimension.
But it does spell disaster and doom and gloom to people too attached to earthy concerns and earthly logic. It is death come early. It is more though. It is the death of great expectations. And isn’t that one of the lessons of the Camino? We learn that our expectations generally get us in trouble. Life just isn’t that predictable, it is twists and turns and plan B’s over and over again. We know that.
Off to walk. Patches of blue sky and occasional rain drops falling. Traveling together loves, Felipé.
Phil, so true about the unpredictability in life, and on the Camino. Don’t forget also, “The Camino provides” and the Yellow Arrows pointing the way. Both are there to tell you, you are not alone; others have walked this path before you. That’s what your blog and walking and talking with you says to me: we are fellow pilgrims, in more ways than one. Thanks, my friend, for sharing your journey so openly. You are a yellow arrow and a Camino Angel.
Henriette ~ thank you for your great comment. You know what I usually say, “check’s in the mail”! Hope to see you soon. Felipé.x
Dear Phil,
There is so much healing pouring out from the posts lately… I am thinking on this line you wrote: “it is death come early”… and that is a lot of how we think, right? as if we would have been assured we will live until 95 and anything else is short… If there is one thing I would like to take away from meeting you is this awareness on a daily basis that the only day we have is today, and we have to live it fully. At the end of the day, what will count is how many days we live and not how many days we last.
Lucky-for-being-your-fellow-pilgrim Love,
Cris
We are both lucky Cris ~ looking forward so much to see you again our Master of Ceremonies. The excitement is building! Felipé.x