Enjoying God's Goodness: On to Molinaseca

Today was a wonderful grace gift from God. It was supposed to rain much of the day, but when we woke up, the stars were shining and the sky was clear. Since we had a reservation for tonight we slept in a bit, lingered over breakfast and left at sunrise...about 8:15. It was a little over a mile up to La Cruz de Ferro - a simple iron cross at the highest point of the Camino...4,934 feet. The cross stands atop of a weathered pole that has become a symbol of the pilgrim way of Saint James. Beside the cross there is a little stone chapel - Ermita de Santiago. Unfortunately it is locked most of the time. Many pilgrims bring a stone or token of love or blessing to add to the pile of rocks at the base of the cross. Everyone seems to take pictures there as well. We had beautiful clear blue skies for our pictures!

As we left I was thinking about the verses in Philippians 3:13-14

...this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

While I have been thinking about the past on the Camino, it has mainly been the good things The Lord has done in and through us over the past 44 years. I have not dwelt on the negative, the regrets, the failures, but rather on the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives. And now we have a whole different stage of life to live with and for Him. While I don't know yet what that looks like, I am looking forward to it and pressing on to be more like Him and to be faithful to Him to the finish line.

We were on a rough path much of the time today....going up and over another high point and then down down down into Molinaseca. We really had to concentrate on where we placed our feet every step. Some places we were walking through narrow gullies filled with rocks...rough going and hard
on the feet. But I was able to pray sporadically at best for our kids, our grandkids and our own lives, committing each one to God...futures, relationships, finances, careers, husbands and wives to be, character development, growth, educations...laying it all at the Cross. Good stuff! And all while enjoying a beautiful, sunny, blue sky, warm day. Thank you, Lord!

We had a snack/lunch in a little town called Acebo. A wonderful 77 year old woman from New Castle, England was at the table. She had walked part of the Camino years ago. Now she and her husband were walking the whole way from St. Jean to Santiago! She said the town of. Acebo looked much like Foncebadon when she walked years ago. Now it is a beautiful, quaint, prosperous town. So, I leaned there is hope for Foncebadon! It can live again!

We arrived in Molinaseca at about 1:30 and found El Reloj, the Casa Rural. There was some confusion about our rooms but we got it straightened out and have nice rooms in an amazing place...could be a museum or art gallery. Really fun and interesting. They even did our dirty laundry for us. Went out for a walk around town...two pretty churches and a handsome medieval bridge coming into town.

Went to dinner with Dave and Barb and just now got home. It started raining about nine and poured for an hour so we decided we had better make a run for it. Didn't get too wet. We have breakfast and then head out for a town called Cacabelos tomorrow. In the guide the next 2 days would each be about 20 miles, so we are going off the plan and taking three days instead. Rain continues to be in the forecast for 3 more days. Praying it is just sprinkles, not downpours. God has been good to us!