1st Day- Hike up and over the Pyrenees Mountains

Oh my God, what did I commit to do? Can I really do this? If I had known how difficult this first day was, I would never have attempted climbing over the Pyrenees! What was I thinking!!! I climbed 1300 feet straight up the mountain.

It would be like going on the treadmill and putting it on mountain climbing and doing that for 12 hours.

One stop for expresso and to use restroom about 3 hours up and then all on your own. The day I choose was rainy and foggy and cold. Thank God I had backpack rain cover and rain poncho and hiking jacket and Wool X long sleeve shirt and merino Wool X camisole and a Wool X jacket. All kept me warm. The dense fog was the real challenge. How many times in our lives do we live in the fog, not being able to see.

I missed out on the beautiful scenery. One mistake I made was packing my backpack too heavy. I paid the price for that.

A fellow pilgrim came along side me and had a cell phone with phone and internet. She had marked out the trail and was constantly focusing on how much further. It was taking away being present for the walk. So we would separate and then meet again and no one passed us. We were all alone in the fog.

You all are not going to believe this. There was a cross on the trail and the marking were not clear to follow this grass path on the trail. I missed it and the path I choose was going down hill instead of up.

Wow I was finally going down. I met wild horses with big bells ringing and two of them came over and allowed me to pet them. What a treat. Further down I saw a lot of black face sheep roaming the countryside with their own tingling bells. I had read about these sheep. They produce the best cheese. I got some of their cheese in France. So smooth and creamy. What a special treat.

Everything going just smoothly. The fog lifted for me to see the sheep I read about. Then a car stops and says to me “ Camino?” I said yes and he told me “no Camino” and pointed back and said to the Cross. I said “ Oh no, The Cross”. I knew how far back that was and I knew it was back up the mountain. I am not sure but I think it was an hour out of the way.

How many times in my life have I taken the wrong road away from the Cross and away from God? How many times have I gotten lost without even realizing that I was lost?

The good thing is that God always sends someone to guide me back. Whether I choose to listen or not is my choice. I am so glad I choose to listen and get back on the right road again.

Wow, this ties right in with the theme of this Holy Year, which emphasizes that God wants us to come back to receive his love, mercy and forgiveness. He loves us so much. He created us. He wants a personal relationship with us.

Now I am on the right path and the fog is starting to lift. My backpack is getting heavier and I am really getting tired. I am still going up.

Just as I mentioned before, God send human angels to us when we are lost to guide us back and he sends human angels again when we are on the right path.

Tears are flowing down my face right now, with gratitude that once again, God sent two angels in human form, two young men from Italy who came from nowhere and one carried my backpack and the other one loaned me his hiking poles and showed me how to use them.

Such an act of kindness was overwhelming. It still is. Every time I think about it or write about it, I can hardly breathe.

One of the things I am praying for is to allow God and others to help me. It is very humbling to admit that you can not do it on your own and that you need help and then to allow someone to walk with you and help you.

This random act of kindness was a sacrifice for those two angels. One had to carry my heavy load, they both had to slow down and not do their normal pace, one had to go without his hiking poles which made his hike more difficult.

What an example of pure love and kindness to a stranger.

They role modeled the divine nature of our creator, God. God loves us so much and sends people to help us along the way.

I do not consider myself a religious person, but I think religion is a good foundation to learn who God is and why He sent his son,Jesus, so we could choose that path to have our sins forgiven.

Many people have issues with the church doctrines. I witnessed people preaching or teaching doctrines and then not practicing what they preach. I labeled them hypocritical. I wanted more.

So I rebelled against the church and went down that path of rebellion. I not only rebelled against the church, I turned my back on God because He failed to protect me. I started to blame God for mistakes others made and for the mistakes I made. Why was life so difficult?

A miracle happened to me because of someone praying for me. I call them “my prayer angels”

Some people started to pray for me and asked God to help me and I was rescued. I did not even know I was lost. I got back on the right path.

The power of praying for others is also part of the Holy Year theme. I am proof that prayer works

Many of you are spiritually walking with me on this spiritual pilgrimage. You have committed and disciplined yourself to pray every day for yourself and for others. Simply say “God help” and then say their names. God knows what they need. Also pray for the wounds you carry from the sins of others and the sins that you have committed.

This is also part of the Holy Year blessing to get forgiveness of sins and a release of the hold someone else has on you because they sinned against you.

It is time to let it go…when I walk through the Holy Door. If you are following me and praying I believe you too will receive the miracles of divine grace, mercy, love and forgiveness.

Going to go out now and get something to eat. Pray for me. This is hard and strenuous.

I lite a candle in pilgrim mass in France. So you all are now official spiritually a part of this journey, Camino.

Love you all.

Esther Mae