Prepared to Serve

This morning was all about Camino preparation.

We found ourselves at our local REI, filling backpacks full of weights to see what felt good and fit right for our upcoming journey. (You might remember that I burned not only my hiking boots in Finisterre, but also my pack which I'd had since Christina and I spent the summer of 2000 at the Grand Canyon.)

We also picked out some new socks to try out during our preparation hikes, which I'm convinced are the key to an enjoyable Camino. (Nothing but toe socks for me! For our prep hikes I'm trying compression toe socks for the first time!)

Last year I made all of my purchases blind and alone. But this year I get to do so with Randy and nearly 800 kilometers under my belt.

As we were going about our shopping I couldn't help but think how awesome God is. That God knew my word of 2015 would be "serve" long before I did. Even before he placed Randy in my path. 

The moment we met! March 5, 2014, St. Jean Pied de Port, France.

Randy, a man whose career as a caterer is built on serving others. A man whose commitment to serving everyone in his path impressed me all 35 days that we walked together last Spring. A man who served me and allowed me to serve him, through caring for our blisters and shoulders and laundry, inviting each other to laugh and cry and receive all that the Camino had to offer.

We've been talking about our hopes for this year's Camino. Which of course will include serving others.