I have been walking with the Camino del Norte, one of the ancient pilgrim routes that go to Santiago da Compostela in northern Spain for the past week. I have been doing so in the company of my wife, Laura, her sister and brother in law. We began in Biarritz in south western France last Tuesday morning and have now arrived in Guernica at the heart of the Spanish Basque Country.
My feet have become very badly blistered and Laura (who is a doctor) tells me that there will be no more walking for me this year. I feel humbled by this and realise how I regard my body as a servant that should obey me in my every wish. Am I going to learn a new relationship with it? A partnership perhaps?
I found a pilgrim’s credo by Murray Bodo before I left and I have been repeating it often along the way. I will end by sharing it.
I am not in control. I am not in a hurry. I walk in faith and hope. I greet everyone I meet with peace. I bring back only what God gives me.
Wisdom from The Lord of the Rings 
I am sorry to hear of this new challenge Stephen, but I can already hear how you’re turning the troubles into gold. Thanks for the Pilgrim’s Credo. That’s a keeper! Thanks for sharing your words and experiences. We are all enriched when you do!
Thank you for all your encouragement, Bill. And my feet thank you too!
Sorry to hear about the blisters. New boots? I hope you are in pleasant surroundings with good company and that you heal quickly. A visit to the local Prancing Pony might help ease the pain.
Thanks Bob, we have arrived at a really nice hotel just outside Bilbao. But I miss the kind of Prancing Pony inn that we have in England.
Thank you Stephen, and especially for the credo. May your feet heal very quickly.
In return, you might like this short article on The Professor:
https://theconversation.com/how-j-r-r-tolkiens-novels-were-inspired-by-medieval-poems-of-northern-bravery-212590
Best wishes, Ken
Many thanks Ken. We got home at lunch time today to an amazing meal prepared by our daughter. Feet are healing well, thank you. Many thanks for the link. I look forward to listening to it.
Could not make it without the good feet inserts for my shoes. What a game changer for me. Sounds like quite a great adventure. Maybe you have a pony in your future? Bill would be a good name.
Well Stephen, thanks for telling your story. I hope you heal and keep walking (metaphorically on pilgrimage, but, you know, also walking around).
Many thanks, Brenton. I am happy to say that my wounded feet are now healing well. My sore knees need more attention. My daughter, Bethan, has been advising me. She thinks that I need to go to the gym regularly but I hate gyms.
I shared something of the pilgrimage experience with some ministry colleagues today and realised that I will be processing this for some time to come.
I have just run across this fascinating website of British pilgrimage routes: https://wayfaringbritain.com/pilgrimage
Thank you so much for sharing this, Bob. I am fascinated by the appeal of pilgrimage in contemporary society. Judging by my own experience both this year and in previous ones you both feel that you are sharing something with others but feel separate as well.