17.2 miles in the blazing sun and inclines and beautiful views. Every shade tree was a welcoming site. Every cool breeze was appreciated. Every drop of water refreshing.

Had lentil soup, delicious and chicken and rice. Better today. I took a turmeric mix to keep down inflammation on my back. I am getting very emotional.

Thoughts and feelngs of my past come and go. As they do, i pray for forgiveness for me and for others. I also reflect on the gratitude for some of the good things that happened in the midst of the turmoil and darkness.

There are spiritual moments that happen around us, if only we pay attention. Today as I was walking, a group of butterflies started to dance around me and I stopped and gratitude tears came flowing from my eyes down my cheeks.

I may have mentioned that one of the many reasons I am walking this pilgrimage is to give tribute and thanks and grieve, the passing of a woman, named Sylvia, my AA sponsor for 30 years, who came along side me to spiritually mentor and unconditionally love me until I could love myself. She was definitely one of my physical spiritual angels. I carry her picture with me on this journey.

Her favorite symbol was the butterfly, symbolizing transformation. Caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.

Do you know that if you help the butterfly and open up the chrysalis ( not sure of the correct spelling) when the butterfly is trying to come out to fly, that you can injure the butterfly permantly. Spiritual lesson. The only person we can change is ourselves.

I Have learned to be cautious to only give suggestions and never tell someone what they should do. If you do, you may permanently injure them like the butterfly story. I believe we are to be guides, mentors and supporters of each other.

So back to the butterflies. I knew immediately that it symbolized all of you praying and spiritally growing along with me on this Camino pilgrimage. All of you that are alive and all of those who are in heaven who connected to me on my spiritual journey along the way.

Sylvia listened to me and supported me and encouraged Me to follow my heart and spirit and do the next right thing for me. She role–modeled who God is, unconditional love and a constant divine force who listens and knows my heart’s desires and guides me. Never leaving me or rejecting me or shaming me or scolding me or punishing me. I now have A God who loves me and forgives me and a God who has my back.

People come along side me on my camino walk and we walk and talk about the Holy Year and about how they were brought up and why they turned away from the church and from God because of eitherthe church doctrine or the people in the church.

I have learned that there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Today i choose to be spiritual.

Don’t get me wrong, religion is the solid base of God’s words and God’s will for our lives, however, without the personal unconditional love and the connection with God’s Spirit, we are all missing out on allowing the Holy Spirit of God to direct us and guide us to do the next right thing.

Sylvia was like a spiritual mom to me. Because of her love, the love of the members of AA, counselors, special recovery friends, the other spiritual guides divinely placed in my path, i have grown tremendously. Thank you all. I will forever be gratefull.

This reading from AA devotional is ver relevant. Hope it inspires you lj it did me.

Recovery reading

“When many hundreds of people are able to say that the consciousness of the presence of God is today the most important fact of their lives, they present a powerful reason why one should have faith. When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the Spirit of the universe, we have to stop doubting the power of God.

Our ideas did not work, but the God-idea does. Deep down in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of God.

Faith in a Power greater than ourselves and miraculous demonstrations of that power in our lives are facts as old as the human race.” Am I willing to rely on the Spirit of the universe?

Meditation for the Day

You should not dwell too much on the mistakes, faults, and failures of the past. Be done with shame and remorse and contempt for yourself.

With God’s help, develop a new self-respect. Unless you respect yourself, others will not respect you.

You ran a race, you stumbled and fell, you have risen again, and now you press on toward the goal of a better life.

Do not stay to examine the spot where you fell, only feel sorry for the delay, the shortsightedness that prevented you from seeing the real goal sooner.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may not look back. I pray that I may keep picking myself up and making a fresh start each day.

Keeping praying and keep seeking a personal relationship with God. Love you all. You are all walking with me spiritually.

Love from Spain

Esther Mae