I think one of the things I loved most about the Camino is that I was unplugged.

Unhooked.

Undistracted.

I had no work to do other than to walk to our next destination.

I only used my phone to take photos during the day.

I listened to no news.

I did not have to mow the yard, or do dishes or even make my bed.

I was fully awake, fully alive, fully aware.

Things my "life of the ordinary days" does not always allow.

And in this state - this awake, aware state - the natural world came alive!

I felt as if I was drowning in beauty.

I felt as if God was everywhere.

Reminded me of this bit of writing:

Life is this simple.

We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent

and God is shining through it all the time.

This is not just a fable or a nice story

It is true.

If we abandon ourselves to God

and forget ourselves,

we see it sometimes

and we see it maybe frequently.

God shows Godself everywhere,

In everything,

In people and in things and in nature and in events.

It becomes very obvious that God is everywhere and

in everything and we cannot be without God

It is impossible.

The only thing is that we don't see it.

Thomas Merton

One of the lessons of the Camino I desperately want to integrate into my ordinary life is this:

To stay awake.

To stay aware.

To always be watching for God shining through.