Sex and Sadness

There are a number of ways you can travel the camino; a pied, en velo or tour-bus! No seriously the latter group get on a deluxe coach, accompanied by pampered pooch, high heels and smelling of a parfumerie. They wear a scallop shell around their neck held by a piece of string , which is completely out of keeping with the rest of their attire, and leave the coach to walk the few metres to the Refugio where they get their stamp, bearing the credentials of that area. Some find this stagger a little taxing. Should this be their final stop of the day they take the beds that are available at 6euro per night. This does not rest easily with the ´pelegrinos a pied ou en velo' but gives them the 'Camino Experience'. Maybe Center Parcs or Alton Towers could see some potential here. Interestingly enough the same day I observed this taking place, I read in Celtic Daily Prayer of 'tour bus Christians'- those who stay in their comfort zones and just 'get off the bus' to nip into the same church each Sunday, but avoid the grubby, smelly interaction with a pained and suffering world. Safe in their Christian citadel with what they think is the churched and purified.
Last night I met up with the friends I had made on the first day. We ate at the local cafe the 'menu a pelegrino', drank wine and discussed life, death and the universe. One comes from a Christian home and far too definitely pronounces God does not exist, two are lapsed Catholics and one is from a thriving church in Canada, but has just moved in with boyfriend so is feeling uncomfortable and maybe even compromised. I am the odd one out; I am older and still I say I love God. This is strange for them and I am quizzed at length about my views on divorce, abortion, life and death. Sex before marriage is a hot topic all having rejected the churches teaching. I shared with them tales from living with teenagers, respecting differences without compromise of ones own integrity and the topic that hit a raw nerve-abortion. For the first time I realised these people feel unacceptable, rejected by God because they have not lived up to their churches teaching, which was too hard to abide by alone and then they feel condemned and judged. These are nasty feelings so it is much better to walk away and reject that that you think is going to reject you. One guy said he had NEVER heard a Christian talk about the abundant, loving merciful embrace of Christ- no matter what a person had done. Forgiveness was something to be earned through 'giving up' all that gave him pleasure. Oh how very very sad this is.
much love, Kate