The Path Taken

In the summer heat of Spain, a father and his 15-year-old son Simon set out on the legendary Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route that has drawn seekers for over a millennium. Their 31-day journey coincides with the approaching Feast of St. James, adding an extra layer of historical resonance to their already momentous trek.

As they navigate the well-worn path to Santiago de Compostela, the father finds himself increasingly drawn into the rich tapestry of the Camino's history. The ancient story of St. James – from his humble beginnings as a Galilean fisherman to his final rest in Spain's sacred soil – becomes more than just background lore. It transforms into a living presence that walks alongside them, deepening the father's connection to his faith with each step toward the saint's final resting place.

The journey proves transformative beyond its physical challenges. While his son maintains virtual connections with friends walking days behind them, the father experiences a profound spiritual awakening. The pilgrimage subtly reshapes his relationship with his faith – Sunday homilies take on new meaning, Jesus's teachings resonate more deeply, and his spiritual foundation grows stronger.

Their arrival in Santiago de Compostela, amid the city's preparations for the Feast of St. James, marks not just the end of their physical journey but the beginning of a new chapter. Standing before the silver crypt containing St. James's remains, the father realizes the Camino has awakened something unexpected within him – a calling to give back. He commits himself to training as a Hospitalero, one who helps guide and support future pilgrims on their own transformative journeys.

This narrative weaves together the intimate story of a father-son adventure, the ancient history of a sacred tradition, and one man's unexpected path to spiritual renewal and service. It stands as testament to the Camino's enduring power to transform those who walk its ancient stones, proving that sometimes the end of one journey is merely the first step of another.

CHAPTER10

Cruz de Ferro

Cruz de Ferro is a place of considerable significance on the Camino. It is a solitary iron cross that is sets motionless on top of a 10-meter-high wooden post; the highest-geographical point along the way. The post is old, gray and cracked with age. I could not figure out the kind of wood, but the post must have been 450 to 500 years old. It’s ancient fissures housed troves sacred notes, photos and charms left by the believers. There are numerous theories regarding the origin and symbolism of the cross. Among the reasons, it has been asserted that the cross was erected to guide pilgrims particularly in the winter months when the route can be obscured by snow. Others have suggested that the cross and its location originate from Roman times, marking the border between territories. My theory is, since it is the highest point on the Camino, you are closest to God and he alone can answer your prayers and forgive your transgressions thru his son Jesus Christ. You pray for his merciful forgiveness at this location and by walking the Camino with a penitent heart.

Traditionally, pilgrims carry a small stone that symbolizes the sins or burdens of one’s life that will be left at the foot of the cross. I carried 5 such stones. The most significant was for my oldest sister Rose. At the time of my Camino, our family had just experienced the loss of Rose’s youngest son Skylar. He was twenty-nine years old. What I remember about Skylar is that he was a fun young boy and that he loved to play soccer. He played goalie and developed good skills. When he was in his early youth, I would visit him and my sister in Texas. She has two other boys, Rubin the oldest and Jarred in the middle. Our family had been blessed for many years with health and safety. Skylar was killed by a police officer in Arizona. I witnessed a video of the encounter. The 29-year-old man I saw was not the Skylar I remembered. According to his dad, Skylar had developed some addictions that he was constantly battling. I wondered if it might have perhaps been heroin or meth?

In the police dash cam video, Skylar was wielding two knives and threating people in a grocery store parking lot. The police officer commanded Skylar to drop the knives. He wouldn’t. He pensively swayed foot to foot and then charged the officer from about 45 meters away. The officer yelled again and again for Skylar to stop. He kept coming running at full speed. The officer shot one time. Skylar went down and died at the scene. I understand that the officer tried to perform CPR but Skylar had been hit in the chest and trying to revive him was futile. I would also argue that the officer did not have to shoot Skylar in the chest. The more I thought about it the more I could not accept. He could have aimed for a leg or fired a warning shot. This was the burden I was carrying for my sister. I cannot even fathom the depths of grief a mother must experience at the loss of her child especially when it is the youngest. I have known other people who have lost children and it is a club I hope I never belong to. One cannot feel, understand or anticipate this type of pain without living it. The stone my sister had given me was limestone, which is a common sedimentary rock found in Texas. It was in the shape of a broken heart. My sister had asked me to write “I Love You Skylar- Mom” on the stone with a Sharpie, which I did. I gently placed her stone at the foot of the cross among countless millions of other stones.

The sight of Cruz de Ferro is overwhelming. Stones of every shape, color and size are mounded over 15 meters high. Photographs and letters litter the area. Ribbons, rosaries, small religious medals, dead and wilting flowers are trapped in the massive mound of stones. What could I pray for? How do I ask God to help my sister, her ex-husband, Skylar’s brothers, and the others that knew and loved him? To tell you the truth, it is easy to ask God for mercy. You just need ask with intention. I asked for hope.