Today was a short walk and a deserved break. Made it to Leon. Just walked around, visited la Catedral de Santa Maria de Regla de Leon. An amazing structure, taking the religiosity out, this work of art is mind blowing. Even in modern times it can still be seen from a great distance, so one can only imagine the sight of this cathedral in 1300 when it was built.

It is one of the greatest examples of gothic architecture and I experienced the first time a statue of the Virgin Mary as a young pregnant woman.

I feel it makes her human and the one who approved this statue was making a statement. But that’s a whole other discussion!

I am awestruck by its grandeur. Just look at these doors. The 2 people are standing just next to them. Not sure where the giant who opens them lives!

The pictures don’t really show it’s true magnificence when you are in the space, the sun highlights the colour of the stain glass and the inner space glows.

While the bricks and mortar cathedral gives us things to think about so does our humanly cathedral – our mind, body and soul.

It is interesting to think that at the end of a long walk the body is physically exhausted but the mind is energized, a feeling of being alive. It’s a state of joy that comes from living and experiencing something. But one would expect I am so exhausted how can I find joy in that?

That’s what I was thinking about on my walk today and just as I was approaching the end I saw this written on a wall.

It spoke to me in 2 ways:

1) out of the exhaustion when the body is spent and can do no more the mind relives and can reflect on what lead to the exhaustion and the accomplishment. While one may feel joy or happy or excited during the activity it’s when it is over when the true joy emerges. “I Did That! and it was Great!” Who has ever thought while doing something and hating it, but once done, having a great sense of relief, and isn’t that joy?

And

2) you don’t need excitement to feel joy. Sitting down with a great book; watching your children play; preparing a meal for friends; all examples of joyful experiences.

1) is after the event and 2) is during the event.

Well that’s enough philosophy for a Monday! Would love to hear other perspectives on joy. We are all on a learning journey whether we walk the actual Camino or our Camino of life.

Wanted to give an update on my progress. Following picture is I started at the blue pen, will finish at the black pen and I am currently at the red pen.

While it looks like I am close to finishing but the next 2 weeks will be tougher with mountains and a lot of up and down. So I needed this booster, therefore I thought I deserved a good late lunch/early dinner:

There has been so much I have seen and thought about and I think I could write a daily post for the rest of my life but for now one final picture that a fellow pilgrim took of me. Early Saturday morning!