Well, I survived Day 1

Yesterday Barbie and I managed to make it to St. Jean Pied-du-Pont safely and already with some new friends--one a Portuguese Knight of Malta, which order I did not even know still existed. We spent the night in an albuergue run by a married couple and a rotating crew of volunteers, who are the physical embodiment of the word hospitality. The highlight of the evening was dinner provided by our hosts with the other guests--an event marked by enthusiastic conversation in five different languages with any given individual switching back and forth at any given minute.
Today we made our first hike from St. Jean to Roncevalles, which is supposed to be the hardest of the entire camino.
Despite all the warnings we have heard in the past days about how difficult this hike is, we managed it just fine. Barbie commented that these warnings were coming from Europeans, who are most likely more accustomed to a more laid-back lifestyle. Whatever the reason, though certainly not a walk in the park, today was a pure joy. The vistas were spectacular from start to finish. Hopefully I will be getting pictures uploaded eventually.
We also continue to meet highly unique and highly amiable people along the way. I´d like to give some descriptions, but my time is just about out so that will have to wait for another post. I hope everyone is well. Rest assured, I could not be happier at this moment.

Before the first step

Dear friends and family,

Thank you for taking an interest in my little adventure on el Camino de Santiago. I'll be happy for your thoughts and prayers along the way. In spite of having hiked part of el Camino before, I have very little idea what lies before me... and that, perhaps, is what excites me most. My intention in hiking this storied pilgrimage is to daily place myself in God's hands, come what may. After two years of planning my days literally down to the minute, I relish the prospect of living for a time with nothing but the few items I carry on my back and for nothing but the journey and those with whom I share it. If you'd like more information about the Camino itself and what lies ahead of me, you might check out .

I suppose the most obvious question as I set out is, "Why?" Why put myself through the physical strain of hiking from one end of Spain to the other? Why spend the first month of my summer vacation thousands of miles away from everyone (almost) who knows and loves me best? Why spend the money to get there when I should be paying off student loans? Well, to be honest part of the reason I'm making this pilgrimage is to seek out answers to questions just such as these. Working as a Catholic educator these past two years, I've been assaulted by a barrage of questions about the faith I profess and, particularly, how we go about the work of forming others in that tradition. It is my hope that, in spending some time in the company of those who are seeking God in a very active way, I will gain some insights into how to better bring God to others.

On a more personal level, this particular moment in time marks a major crossroads in my life as I conclude my first significant teaching experience and prepare to entrench myself more firmly in the work of Catholic education. My time teaching in Memphis has elucidated for me some of the troubling issues that confront the Church today. Carrying these experiences and lessons with me, I look to this journey along el Camino as a time to contemplate all that I've witnessed and to allow God to direct me where my next step should be. Also, I've decided to dedicate the trials and joys of this journey to my three siblings, whom I seem to appreciate more and more as time wears on.

I am blessed to be joined along the way by a fellow educator and good friend, Barbie Sloan. Two weeks in we will be joined by a third companion, our friend Greg. I could not hope for better company, and doubtless much of what I'll have to say herein will be inspired by our conversations.

Thanks again for tuning in. Please be sure to keep us in your prayers, and I promise to return the favor.