Cindra on the left, with the men of our pilgrimage. We are on the fourth day of the Camino de Santiago, and many thanks for those who expressed concern over our missing backpacks. The airline delivered our vagabond packs safely and soundly last night, and our complaints changed to joy. But now we find ourselves lamenting the heavy load we must shoulder up these steep mountain ridges! The Way of St. James has taught us that we will complain unless we decide not to complain.
An interesting man has joined our fellowship and now we are fifteen. A burly bearded fellow came bounding down the hill on our first day out, asking where we were staying that night. At the time we were nonplussed, as the albergue we had planned on was closed “por descanso.” But Cindra, as he announced himself, knew another place just up the road. “It’s only five euros and has a kitchen.” So he just inserted himself, deftly, into our group, although we are obviously Catholic and he is a lapsed Nowegian Lutheran.
He helped prepare dinner and joined us at table like one of the family that night. He sat respectfully as we chanted vespers after dinner, and joined in our conversation about the experiences of the day. He knelt with everyone through the Low Mass yesterday in Tineo, and when I shouted out that it was time to pray grace at dinner he sat bolt upright and piously folded his hands (“he must’ve seen that on Monte Python” someone quipped).
An interesting man has joined our fellowship and now we are fifteen. A burly bearded fellow came bounding down the hill on our first day out, asking where we were staying that night. At the time we were nonplussed, as the albergue we had planned on was closed “por descanso.” But Cindra, as he announced himself, knew another place just up the road. “It’s only five euros and has a kitchen.” So he just inserted himself, deftly, into our group, although we are obviously Catholic and he is a lapsed Nowegian Lutheran.
He helped prepare dinner and joined us at table like one of the family that night. He sat respectfully as we chanted vespers after dinner, and joined in our conversation about the experiences of the day. He knelt with everyone through the Low Mass yesterday in Tineo, and when I shouted out that it was time to pray grace at dinner he sat bolt upright and piously folded his hands (“he must’ve seen that on Monte Python” someone quipped).
It turns out that Cindra brought a whole pharmacy in his pack, to the great aid of those unprepared for salt deprivation, swollen knees, and diarrhea. He has been assiduously lancing the boils and blisters of the hapless, providing uproarious laughter for those who are discouraged, and shepherding us to right paths and hostels with his GPS.
When Cindra announced that he would be with us through to Santiago, everyone clapped and cheered. He is one of the unexpected and delightful gifts God sends at various stages on our pilgrimage to the holy places.
When Cindra announced that he would be with us through to Santiago, everyone clapped and cheered. He is one of the unexpected and delightful gifts God sends at various stages on our pilgrimage to the holy places.
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