Most books about hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain consist of the how, when and what to bring on your pilgrimage. This wonderful book tells you what to seek, or better yet; whom to seek.Father Dave Pivonka, T.O.R. has written a story more about searching than the final destination.
It has a wonderful narrative that made me laugh out loud, cry with joy and even go immediately to my parish priest for reconciliation after reading the clothes washing story; it's that powerful and relevant.
The story is about life and putting one foot in front of the other. Its about prayer and listening to God.
It is about theMass and sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. It's about challenges and picking up the Cross. It's hope, faith, love and joy in a power greater than yourself. It's community and family; Priests and nuns and lay people struggling to seek Jesus.
It's about pilgrim meals and foods that feed the soul, body and heart. It's finding an answer to dryness in prayer and a missing sock. It's stolen safety pins and found friendships. It's changing clothes and changing your heart. It is a story of looking only after self and hearing Jesus break chains of ego and selfishness. It's about concrete and dirt, pain and sickness, wine and food, individuals and communities, blisters and feet, walking sticks and learning to slow down.
This is one priest I would love to meet.
He walks 500 miles to go to church in Santiago de Compostela, and finds it on miles 1-499 during his travels.
This is a book to savor. Allowing it to seep into our pores and hearts. This book brought alive the quote from St. Augustine ;
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."This is a book you will reread again and again, and give copies to those who are seeking a new path. Anyone want to go for a hike next year?
This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Hiking the Camino.
1 comments:
wow. sounds like great read. can i borrow it?
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