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Things You Learn When You Spend 40 Days Walking 554.8 Miles

1. Gratitude . . . for a body that allows such a ridiculous sounding thing to become a reality . . . for a Church that provides the time and resources to do such a ridiculous sounding thing . . . for a partnership that encourages each other all along the way. I need to name my gratitudes more often.
2. The power of routine. Wake up, drink café con leche, eat chocolate pastry, walk, stop for rest and a Coke Zero or Nestea with limon, walk, eat a jamon and queso sandwich, take shoes off, elevate feet, walk, stop for ice cream and another Nestea with limon, walk, arrive at Hostel, take off shoes and leave at the front door, get paper sheet and pillow case and get bunk bed assignment, lie down and put feet in the air, take a shower, wash clothes by hand in the sink outside, hang clothes to dry, find some supper, debrief the day, maybe play some cards, go to bed, try to sleep with a room full of snorers, wake up, drink café con leche, eat chocolate pastry, etc., etc., etc. day after day after day. Routine does not have to equal boredom.
3. Taking in the world at a slower pace. There was one photo I posted of us walking and someone commented about the airplane trails in the sky: “Love the dichotomy in that photo . . . slow travel vs fast travel.” I had not even seen the streaks in the sky. I was so focused on each step. It’s still shocking how far we got traveling at a walking pace. Perhaps I need to slow down more often and more consistently.
4. The world is beautiful. The flowers, the wheat, the mountains, the ocean, the valleys, the rough places, the flowers, the butterflies, the streams, the slate roofs, the stone houses, the flowers, the road ahead, the view when you turn around, the ancient stone walls, the cities, the woods, the forest, the fog, the flowers, the flowers, the flowers. My eyes are more open to the beauty all around, and I hope I do not lose this ability to see.
5. Community matters. Thousands of people arrive each day at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. We formed a “Camino Family” along the way, seeing on our last day of walking people that we met on our very first day. There was Mark from Australia and Sebastian from Holand. There was Megan from Hawaii and Carlos and Francisco from Grenada. There was David from Austin, TX, and the family from Colorado. And the Croatian family of five. There was Dan and Lee, now retired, but college buddies reuniting for this adventure. There many more that we didn’t get their names, but all total we met people from 28 countries and 22 states. Because we were in this together, we became family. Community is what we missed most about being away and what we appreciate most about returning.
6. Rest, a shower, and food are restorative in ways that bring healing. It still shocks me how one day can end with the thought, “I cannot walk one more step,” and then you put your feet up, take a shower, eat a good meal, and get some sleep and all of a sudden you can walk again. Honestly, it’s like a miracle. I have to remember this experience for any long days that lie ahead, and not just walking long days of physical excursion, but I’m thinking this will work with emotional long days as well.
7. It’s not about the destination.

Of course we know this, but we forget. Arriving, finally at mile marker 0.00 km in Muxia, we witness the exhilarating coast of Spain. We did it! A 20-year bucket list item checked off. But when I look back on this sabbatical, it won’t be the end that I remember most. Here’s what I will remember about the journey: the rain and fog of day two and that long, cold climb, and how disappointed I was not to have a clear view from atop the Pyrenees, but realizing that the fog had its own beauty; the little Croatian girl who was crying about the mud and how she just didn’t want to go to the bathroom in the woods; the herd of sheep that I had to maneuver; the hydrangeas; the snail that slower but surely crept across the trail carrying the burden of his shell and leaving a trail behind him; the massive stork’s nests on so many church steeples; the nun who gave us a personal blessing one Sunday morning; the creative ways that people marked the way with yellow arrows so that no one got lost; the woman who shared her KT tape to wrap an ankle that needed support; and on and on I could go. Finishing was great, but it was all along the way that made the difference.

There’s more I’m sure, but these are off the top of my head as I return to my desk and my computer to begin processing all that I have learned. Perhaps the most important thing is “Buen Camino!” Everyone wishes everyone “a good journey” or “a good way.” Everyone. What would the world be like if we did that in our everyday life? Being attentive to the world and the people who are making their way through it, wishing them a good journey and doing everything in your power to help make their way more smooth while allowing them to return the favor to you as they are able. It’s a pretty powerful way to live. I hope I can maintain some of what I have learned. I invite you to join me in being attentive to beauty and prioritizing rest and good food. I invite you to join me in living in gratitude and paying attention all along the way. I invite you to join me in living in community knowing that the people around us really matter. I invite you to join me in greeting all you meet with an attitude of wishing them a good journey.

Buen Camino, y’all! And it is so good to be home! - Amy

This year’s Intergenerational Retreat will be at the church on October 4^th and 5^th.  Our theme this year will be Wholeness and Rest. We will have workshops focusing on topics that touch our minds, hearts, and souls.  Please mark your calendars for the Friday, Oct 4^th dinner/movie and a full day of events on Saturday, Oct 5^th.  More information to follow.

Mark your calenders for July's Fun Food Friday, a week from this Friday, July 26th. We will meet in the church parking lot at 11:15a, or you can meet us at the resturant at 11:30a. Please RSVP by signing up in Helt Hall on Sunday Morning or emailing the church office info@ParkRoadBaptist.org.

Location is TBD - so be on the look out for an update on our Facebook Page with more details!

Join us this Thursday, July 18 at 6p for our next gathering at the Rhino Market and Deli, South Park. The address is 4300 Congress Street, Charlotte, NC 28209. There are other Rhino Markets, so please make sure you have the correct address. The Rhino Market in South Park is directly across from the Village Tavern.

*We will not be doing Thirsty Third Thursday for the month of August.

Our show biz friend Ryan announced another FREE movie screening coming up! The movie is called “SING, SING” and looks really good. We will have a chance to see it before it is even released. The Charlotte preview screening of SING SING will be on Wednesday, July 24 at 7p at the AMC Carolina Pavilion.

Watch the “SING, SING” trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3dXc6P3zH8

• July 23 - Taco Tuesdays
• July 24 - Final Guatemala Meeting
• July 31- Question Jar Discussion night- with meal following
• August 4 - 10 - Guatemeala Mission Trip
• August 13 - Taco Tuesdays
• August 18 - Question Jar Discussion Night - with meal following
• August 26 - Kick Off Sunday - Regular scheduled programing resumes

• August 11 - Lake Day at the Mintich's House. (More details coming soon.)
• August 26 - Kick Off Sunday - Regular scheduled programing resumes.

Reduce Stress, renew, and restore. Heal our body and soul using mindfulness and medication practices. Join Counseling Center of Charlotte’s Barabara Thomas as she facilitates this workshop on Saturday, August 3, from 9:30a – 12p in the Milford Chapel Building.

To register and reserve your spot please click on the link below:

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/morning-of-mindfulness-tickets-893751323267

Sympathy is extended to the family of Pat Faulkner in her recent death. It was only a couple of months ago that Pat’s husband, Richard, died. Many years ago, the Faulkners were very active members at Park Road before moving away for work. It was only recently that Pat and Richard returned to the area to be closer to their daughter and son-in-law, Chris and Julie Connelly who joined Park Road with Pat and Richard last year. Our prayers are with the Connellys and their extended families as

they travel this journey of grief with

these two losses so close together.

Coming Up at Park Road

Sunday Worship

Facebook Live and In-Person

11a

First Wednesdays

Dinner and Vespers

(Community Center)

5:30p Dinner / 6p Vespers

First and Third Tuesdays

Bible Study and Fellowship

(Community Center - Room C503)

10a

Tuesday and Thursdays

Flexercise

(Community Center)

9a

Park Road Baptist Church 

 3900 Park Road | Charlotte NC | 28209

Tel (704) 523-5717 

Fax (704) 523-8481

info@parkroadbaptist.org 

 www.parkroadbaptist.org