Welcome to lots of folks who have found this blog today from another link. As you may know, these posts are in reverse chronological order, so if you really have an interest (and some time!) in my entire Camino last year, keep scrolling down for 6 pages, or simply click here to start near the beginning. Be kind! Most of the early posts were from my phone in a Spanish hostel at night after hours of hiking and a few glasses of wine, so the spelling and grammar are a bit embarrassing. I intended to correct and edit, but decided it adds to the flavor and texture of my journal and growth. Enjoy. Please leave feedback!
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This was technically the last of my “Camino de Santiago” posts. I had so many mixed, tormented emotions, I opted not to publish it months ago when I completed “The Way of St. James.”
Predictably, the Camino was a very healthy thing for me to do. Yes, of course the 500 miles was good for me physically (except, of course for my knees), but especially the real reason for my journey – spiritually, and the beginnings of working through some grief issues after losing my 19 year old son, Cullen. Lots of conversation with my son and my God.
But the unexpected benefit was from the blogging itself, spilling myself for everyone to see was beautifully cathartic. It was pretty embarrassing at first, when I discovered myself talking about those things so important to me, the real me. And there I was for the world to see. Hundreds of folks were reading this blog, and on many days, over a thousand visits here. It’s one thing to spill your guts and stand naked for the anonymous world to see, but entirely different when realizing that many of the readers are my siblings, my church community, my patients, and childhood and college classmates. Now, that’s something entirely different. My wife is supposed to see me like this, but realizing that everyone else saw inside was a bit frightening, and made me anxious.
However, as I progressed, I found it very liberating. As healthy as diaries and “journaling” are supposed to be, to do it publically kept me grounded, humble, and more confident that I’m walking with Christ on this journey.
Journey? Sure, our “walk” through life is in fact, for each of us, our “Camino.” I’m a long way from Spain,. and most people will never be blessed to travel there, but we all walk our own Camino, as we put one foot in front of the other on this sometimes rocky road.
So this was to be my final Camino post:
The final day of my Camino de Santiago was spent holding hands with Sharon walking through Finisterre and up towards the lighthouse. “Finisterra” (or in Galacian, “Fisterre”), is Latin for “land’s end,” also Finisterre (finis terrae), means “end of the earth. I’ve been told that after their long pilgrimage to pay homage and ask incercessions of Santiago and worshipping our Lord in Compostela, the perrigrino would continue on to Finistere. The was considered the end of the earth in those days. Over the horizon was beyond the world, the heavens, where their deceased ancestors, their own saints, existed, and so this was a fitting place to converse with them.
We watched the sun set through the drizzle from the lighthouse café. We talked to our loved ones in silence as the majesty of God’s creation dimmed over the horizon from the end of the earth.
As we were headed home, crossing the Atlantic, I thought alot about “the others,” my friends, coworkers, and especially my family. If I come home a “changed” person, will it impact anyone else? Should I need for it to?
My reflex reaction, of course, is “No, this was always about me, and my own “vision quest” with God. But when I hear those words, I want them back. Nothing in our lives is ever just about “me.” If it was only about me, why am I even writing this? Obviously, I wanted to raise funds to replenish Cullen’s scholarship fund, and that’s what I told everyone, and myself. But so many people have shared with me that they genuinely felt brought along with us. Friends, clients, family, even former strangers who just happened to “stumble upon” this blog have told me they have been touched, and even changed, as they “travelled along with us.” Please read on until the very end.
Call it the “pebble in the pond” ripple effect or the “butterfly effect” on air currents, we certainly do change the world forever for having walked a certain route, made today’s choices, said certain words, even been here at all. Again I am humbled.
I feel blessed that you wanted me to share with you, and invited me in. Please know that your prayers have lifted me and my family. We will never be the same because of this loss, because of the Camino, because of your loving prayers, and God’s loving grace. It has been an honor to bring you along.
Much Love. Bill Klein May 2013
At the urging of something deep inside of me, and with the reluctant blessings of my wonderful wife, I’ve decided to restart sharing again through blog posting. To avoid flooding 500 people’s inbox with unwanted stuff, I’ll be posting on my other blog, CLICK HERE, or simply go to dogtorbill.wordpress.com. If you want to subscribe, click the appropriate places. I’ll likely check in with something once a week, or so. Please know that although undoubtedly I will reference my Camino, my future postings will not be about the Camino de Santiago. Much will involve my working through lots of personal baggage and lingering, pervasive drama, that you may or not find helpful, insightful, or even interesting. Some will be very personal, as you’ll find out in the first few posts, and you may well not feel comfortable with what I dig up. But as always, I encourage you to please comment and give me feedback. My skin’s not very thick yet, but as I continue down this road, and embark upon new adventures, including my ministry or apostolate that is now in formation, I look forward to lots of feedback!
Not Alone on my Camino 
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