Gino's Vow
[Day 3]
People have been making the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela for over 1000 years. Historically it was to visit the tomb of St James the Apostle. Now, it’s for all kinds of reasons. Most will walk there from different staring points throughout Spain, many will start in other countries on foot.
One couple I met started from their front door in Germany and had already walked almost 2000km by the time I met them, still with a mere 900km to go.
Whether it’s a religious, spiritual or physical motivation, everyone seems to be either looking for or wanting to lose something. There’s plenty who don’t really know why they’re walking, they just felt compelled. They inevitably realise why they were called. There’s a saying you hear often on the way, “the camino provides”. Whether it’s what you want or not, it’ll likely be what you need.
Gino knew exactly why he was here, he’d made a vow four years ago. Gino is 71 years of age now. I met him in a local restaurant last week just a few narrow streets away from the cathedral. He’d arrived that day with his mate, Tony, who was 75. I had just finished lunch at an adjacent table when they arrived. Seeing me eating alone they invited me to join them, pulled out a chair and poured me a glass of wine from one of the two bottles they’d ordered.
There was plenty of food too. It looked like they were fortifying themselves. Gino’s vow was to be realised the following day.
I was curious why those men were in Santiago, so I asked. Gino took a big , slow drink of wine and explained. He made a vow to his wife. He spoke softly about her struggles with MS and how she was preparing for surgery in 2019.
Itv was at this time when Gino made his vow. He told her, if she survived surgery, God willing, he’d walk to the top of the steps of the cathedral on his knees to give thanks, to praise God. He is a religious man.
Vows are powerful, they’re very different from a promise or intention. There’s a finality and absolute, uncompromising commitment in a vow, it becomes destiny.
Gino is a big man, stoic in his manner and direct his speech. His eyes were welling up as he shared this story however, as were mine. Gino’s wife didn’t survive 2019 but his vow has. It’s taken a few years before he was able to travel and now is the time for him to honour it.
The table felt silent for a moment as we each cast our eyes down to the food and wine upon it. It felt like my cue to leave, Gino had his pilgrimage to make and while he didn’t have to travel too far, it seemed like he was somewhere else for now, a long way away.
As I got up to leave, I shook his hand and wished him buen camino, a ‘good way’. With his mate by his side, his wife in his heart and his vow waiting at the top of those stairs, I have a feeling the camino will provide.
Maybe not what he wants, but likely what he needs.
This post is part of a daily writing challenge where I write a post of at least 300 words every day for the month of April. This is the @my_daily300 challenge which you can participate in and follow via the Instagram link above.