IN OBSERVANCE of All Saints’ Day this Friday, I want readers to imagine and reflect on a world devoid of suffering. Absolutely no suffering, just a perfect world to live in. A world where sacrificing in the name of love for another does not exist. A world where there is no pain nor adversity, where the possibility of learning and growing a family without overcoming obstacles would be denied. Would you consider living in that world? I would not live in such world. We have and still experience situations that cause us to suffer, but the benefits of finding real meaning in suffering remain. Sometimes we have to endure pain and suffering, which in turn translates into joy that we might not have otherwise felt. No one likes to suffer. But it helps us grow and mature as a person. I also believe that suffering is an important part of any journey.
Exerting a great deal of effort, every pilgrim experiences difficulties, both physical and emotional. Some overcome extreme knee pain and excruciatingly painful blisters on their feet, while others get knocked out as they navigate through rocks and crevices in bad weather. For many, just catching their breath and feeling their lungs about to implode while struggling to scale new heights that appear to endlessly torment them can be among the many forms of sacrifices. These are some of the most common experiences shared by thousands of pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago.
Known in English as the Way of St. James, it is a network of pilgrim’s ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the Cathedral of the Santiago de Campostela where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. This is the biggest and most important pilgrimage known to the Catholic faith as it draws 250,000 pilgrims from all over the world annually. Many follow its route as a form of purification or retreat for their spiritual growth.
If millennials have a powerful symbol in “YOLO or You Only Live Once,” this group of talented baby boomers (55 to 75 years old) comprising golfing buddies affiliated with the Cebu Country Club have their own version, “WWC,” a symbolic cry that stands for “While We Can!” They are collectively known as the “Caminoans,” highly successful entrepreneurs and C-level executives that recently completed their annual Camino pilgrimage in Europe (their fifth year in a row). I joined this group, got inducted and the experience blew me away.
After walking the equivalent of a third (80 kilometers in three days) of what my fellow Caminoans went through, I experienced a life altering encounter that will forever change the way I view life. By walking an average of six to eight hours daily, I placed myself in deeper seclusion, enabled me to contemplate about my personal life journey minus all the distractions. When you meditate, it gives you a lot of introspection and provides one the opportunity to discover oneself. As you reflect, you begin to notice the things that really matter most in life are those that come from your heart like being a good parent, a spouse or a sibling. I am sure I was not the only pilgrim that felt this longing for a meaningful existence.
My interest started when Gothong Southern founder Bob and Joy Gothong shared a movie of “The Way,” an inspiring film about a father (Martin Sheen) that walked the Camino de Santiago with his son’s ashes. His estranged son had died while travelling the “El Camino” from France to Spain. What piqued my curiosity further was when Finisterre Memorial and Anseca Group Chair Jun Selma regaled me with remarkable stories of the Caminoan’s past experiences.
To be continued...