Awake and grateful.


The welcoming sun at Santiago de Compostela.

September 24, 2014.

It's 9:40 in the morning, and we are on the bus on our way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The Beatles are singing in my ear as I marvel at the foggy view of the road from the bus; it's been raining intermittently since the day we arrived in Lisbon. The rainfall makes the already cold weather colder; I wish I had brought thicker clothes. Then again, I convince myself it's part of the sacrifice I am offering for this pilgrimage. The cold is still tolerable after all.

It's getting sunnier the more kilometers we tread along the road--an opportune cue to be singing "Here Comes The Sun" in my head. I could be sleeping now, along with the others. It's been a long night after all. We have been up and about for hours since the pilgrimage started. Ive seen and learned and contemplated on so much already, and it's been only almost three days.

And here comes the sun, peeking out completely from the sky and hovering over us. I see the trees lining up along the road. They're full of life and oh-so beautiful.

I'm glad I'm awake at this very moment.

xxx

(Excerpt from my journal during the pilgrimage).

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