Bread for the Journey

After many months of planning, it was a good feeling to put on our backpacks and actually begin walking on the Via Francigena to Rome. The first way marker we saw gave another strong sense of affirmation. We were on the right track! The most important affirmation, however, came from the people we met along the way. After walking for a short time, we stopped at a small bakery to buy some bottled water. When the owner saw that we were pilgrims, she refused to take any money for the water. Then, she reached up on the shelf and took down a large, round loaf of freshly baked and handed it to us. It, too, came with words of blessing and encouragement. A little while later, when we stopped to buy some tomatoes to eat with our sandwiches, the store owner went out to her garden to cut some fresh basil to go with them. As we sat and ate our lunch in the shade of an old oak tree, we felt blessed in many ways. And this was only the beginning. Throughout the journey, people would relate to us as pilgrims rather than tourists, and this continued to have a big impact on the relationships that evolved. It would be good, I think, if all of us were to do the same with the people we meet along the paths we walk in life. Seeing others, even total strangers, as pilgrims on a journey is something that inspires us to show kindness and hospitality. It can also lead us to be more generous in the way we offer material and moral support. Right now, I am on the receiving end of this, but I can already feel myself wanting to turn around and do the same for others.