by the Rev. Im Jung, Wisconsin Conference UMC
A little over a year ago, I was a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James, in the northern parts of Spain. I walked about 450 miles of desert and mountain path for 30 days. There, with my heart full of excitement and fear, I was longing to experience a total solitude, reflecting on who am I to God and with God, and who am I to myself and with others. I also had a simple desire to encounter the mystery of God. It was my personal spiritual journey to grow deeply and widely in God.
The first and second day, I walked on high and low parts of muddy path all day long; the wind against rain, rain against mud that I could not tell what was on my face, drops of rain or tears of my eyes. After I was pretty bitten by the wind, rain, and mud for two days of walking, my body started to ache all over, especially on my shoulders. Sadly, I looked over my 15 pounds of backpack. It was a handsome orange colored backpack; there was nothing wrong with it. What was in it became a heavy burden to my shoulders, back, and feet. The backpack itself weighed about three pounds and my clothing and stuff weighted about 12 pounds. I thought I totally minimized my stuff for 30 days, but now something must go.
I went through my backpack on a second day and found two extra packages of “Wet Ones”. I gave them away to fellow pilgrims. The third day, I found an umbrella that I did not need. I left it at the Albergue. The fourth day, I gave away the most expensive brand new sleeping bag pad and a small thin bag to a bicycle pilgrim. The fifth day, I ate half of my emergency food to reduce the weight of the backpack. The sixth day, I let go of my treasure, the three hundred pages Spain travel guide. I tore several necessary pages from it and tossed it to the recycle bin.
Why couldn’t I get rid of these things all at once? Journey is a process!
On the other hand, in the same backpack, I was very happy to find that there were several things I did not have to think about letting go. They disappeared with time; the drinking water which quenched my thirsty body, the shampoo and conditioner, which bubbled around my wind blown tangled hair to untangle. The pink Dove soap anointed my salty, sweating face and my tired, aching shoulders and finally touching down to my swollen and bruised toes. They totally refreshed me, comforted me and healed me each day at the end of my journey. Can you believe that I showered and washed my hair everyday but consumed only 3oz of shampoo and 3oz of conditioner and 4.25oz of soap over the 30 days! Who says you can’t live simply and survive.
While I was learning to “let go”, the mystery of God was shining through as water, shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotions, and toothpaste, which cleansed and renewed me not only outwardly but also inwardly. Indeed, the mystery of God encountered me in many different forms, ways and shapes all through the 450 miles to guide me, comfort me, heal me, and put a new spirit in me. I could see my heart sparkling with joy and appreciation. The image of God became visible in others and in me a little more each day. What a wonderful world that God has created. The fruit of the spiritual journey brought forth gratitude and humility.
Do you believe you are on a spiritual journey? Where are you on your journey? You do not have to leave home to be on spiritual journey. How is your backpack? How much does your everyday physical or emotional backpack weight? Will you be able to let go some of it?
There is true beauty and abundance in simple living.