Impressions

In order to receive the Compestela, a document that recognizes that you have made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compestela. To do this one carries a pilgrims passport called a Credencial.  Along the way you ask various places, pilgrim houses called alburgues, buisnesses and churches to put a stamp on your Credencial, and sometimes they also record your passing through in a registry of pilgrims.

As I walked from Oloron Sainte Marie to Arens, where we chose to bivouack for the night we encountered through the very hospitable town of Orin I paused to rest by the side door to the catholic church.  At least 3 people stopped their cars and invited us around the corner for coffee.  Not understanding it as an invitation to hospitality I politely declined, but after the third invitation we rounded the corner to a small shop where the woman insisted that we stop and rest and enjoy some orange juice and a bit of coffee cake.  She also stamped our credencial.

Later on the outskirts to Aren we passed a farmhouse with a sign inviting pilgrims to help themselves to water, which Brian did.  A very open and welcoming house.

My reflection is that we all make impressions on one another as we journey on the way.  May God let his grace flow between us through these impressions.

Matthew 10:42 - And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”