Pumped Up Kicks

So THAT is what it is supposed to feel like... Man oh man. I just walked 22k and felt like I could do 22 more. That has NEVER been the case. No sense in pushing it so I stopped at a hostel. No blisters, no pain, only stopped once for water and to dry my socks, and dominated the gravel. It was an ugly walk leaving the city, very industrial. However, I felt like I was flying because my feet felt so good. I won't get too excited but WOOOO HOOOO!!! I honestly felt unstoppable today. My energy is up and I am thrilled despite the fact I'm in the middle of nowhere. Spain plays tonight for the finals in soccer so maybe I'll actually get some sleep. My night in the hotel last night was awesome. After my last post I went to church and walked around the city. At the end of mass the priest called up the pilgrims for a blessing. Once again I had no idea what he was saying, but you can tell when other pilgrims head up to the alter. I need all the prayers I can get so I joined them. He asked where we were all from, and I was the only one representing the US. He said a whole lot of something, but I just smiled. At the end of it he said something at me and I was clueless. He was staring at me, when the Italian woman next to me translated and said he was asking if I understood. I responded "not a word," and she translated that to him. The whole congregation in this huge cathedral started laughing. Turns out that really cool building my hotel overlooked was a church- figures! Anyway, after the blessing when mass ended and some song that sounded really nice was over, the woman I was next to all mass came up to me and started speaking a mile a minute in Spanish. The same Italian lady was near me and she translated. She said, "be safe on your journey and she will be praying for you." That sums up the overall acceptance we get from locals and the respect they show for all those doing the Camino. It's really special and a great feeling that truly does provide motivation for the long walk. Overall, I had a great time in Leon and would for sure go back...

While walking today and loving life I kept thinking of that Footprints Prayer.

Footprints in the Sand

One night I had a dream...
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and Across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before us,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
There was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life
This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
You would walk with me all the way;
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, There is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me. The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never,
never leave you during your times of trial and suffering.
When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

Many times in my life I have questioned where God was when I needed him most. This prayer is so good for those moments. Life might be hard, but just remember you have Jesus to carry you, to lean on, or to walk by your side. I wouldn't necessarily put these past few painful walks in the MOST troublesome points of my life. But I would say it was helpful to have Jesus walking by my side. And today... It felt like I was walking on water! Haha ok ok I'm a little ahead of myself. I am not performing miracles here... I'm just pumped up about my new kicks!

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