Affluence and Arrogance

Well I have managed 22km today and dare not push it any further as my body is struggling with the clearing of lactic acid I think from my aching shoulders- but the feet are good. THANKYOU CHRIS! I stopped for a coffee in St Juan and there spoke to Elizabeth, a German lady who told me that there was a magnificent Gaudi building to see in Astorgia. Having spent many hours in the Gaudi apartments last year in Barcelona, during a house swap, where I marvelled at his design and use of the most exquisite materials, I am eager to see more of his work. Gaudi by the way, got all his ideas from studying the natural world and why not? - who better to copy than our wonderful Creator! So I wait for 4pm when everything re-opens here.
Meanwhile I will tell you the tale of Johnathon, whom I met whilst walking out of Leon. Jonathon is originally from Liverpool but he has left his roots well behind him and is what I would call one of life sophisticates. He is 44yrs old, single, although he has been married, and now earns a living as a software consultant. He reeks of certainty, is cool, very cool, nicely cooly (not a slime ball), but also disturbed. He has a doctorate in Psychology from UCL and is very widely read. He recommends to all to read 'The Red Queen', but he cannot remember who it is by but it is the definitive guide and answer even, maybe, to our searchings and questions. Problem is he is still disturbed. Something, Someone is calling him and he is not at peace. He asks why he cannot be like his sister who has 2.2 kids a 'lego' house, a 9-5 job and an unthinking, undisturbed life. He is one of the easiest guys I have ever spoken to because he seems so secure in himself. His life philosophy is pretty much at odds with my own but we get on so well, each listening to the other. Johnathon has 2 women in his life, 1 for sex and 1 for spiritual matters. and then there are those for 'recreational sex' whatever that maybe. He does not promise monogamy to any woman and he is clear to all the women he meets that 'I am who I am and this is the way it is for me'. I admire his honesty, but also tell him I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole! We go deep quickly and discuss evolving human conscienceousness (spelt wrongly?) and I talk about The Moral Law that I believe exists for all, recognised or not, as devised by God. Go against it and sooner or later you will hit the buffers. True, the buffers can be a long time coming but sooner or later things will begin to collapse, or you will get ill or you will feel deeply dis-satisfied etc. etc. I marvel and am concerned by his compartmentalisation of his life- more a male trait perhaps and I suggest that some sort of integration or building links between the different compartments of his life may help. He agrees with this but the problem is the women in his life are not happy with the presence of the other women! He calls it jealousy. I call it having a better idea of The Moral Law, a knowledge within themselves, even if they don't call it this. Johnathon is fascinated that I read the bible and pray every day. Actually my walk is a prayer. I tell him that Jesus promised that whoever seeks Him WILL find Him and that we have the same God, available to us all. Of course his realationship with God will be different to mine as God is so big he is beyond 'putting in a box' or defining. Johnathon's  father has died in the last 2 years but it is unfinished business for him. He is walking the Camino to say goodbye to his dad and will go to Mass when he reaches Santiago and light a candle for his dad. This is the FIRST TIME he will ever have attended a church service.  I comment that this will be an incredibly special moment and he agrees.
Later during dinner, Johnathon introduces me to his friend- a banker from Liechenstein. We also get talking and the banker proudly tells me that 2 nights ago he arrived in a place where there was no hotel and he absolutely refuses to share a room or sleep with anyone else so decides to hire out a whole room in the Alburgue, paying for all the beds and not allowing anyone to sleep there. I am appalled by this, firstly because beds are at a premium in Alburgues but secondarily because in one man having so much others may have gone without altogether or had to walk many more kms. I enter a conversation with him in which I comment that if he cannot share a room just for 1 night, 1 night! and he MUST HAVE it all to himself then he is a slave to himself and that is the opposite of being a 'free man'. I say I feel deeply sad. He tells me that I think too deeply and that he has so much money he can do as he pleases. I protest that money will not make him happy- I know from my own life and he just restates that I think too much. I cannot stand the company of this man who has so much and yet seems to have 'missed the point' of living and life so I bid him goodnight.
I do not know how he managed to buy a room for himself in the Alburgue other than by pretending that he was booking it for friends who were to arrive later as the Hospitalderos do not check up on you, but it was by far my saddest encounter on The Camino so far. As Jesus said 'it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle'.
Much love, Kate