Lighting candles along the way

Before we left on our trip we put together a list of all the people we had known who had passed away over the past couple years. Family, friends, and acquaintances.  Unfortunately the list is kind of long.

Along the Camino, as we pass churches, if they are open we go inside. In the small towns most churches are locked, and some are abandoned. In medium sized towns and in the larger cities we can generally get inside at least one.  Sometimes the entrance is free and sometimes they ask for a small donation.

We have made a point to light a candle in each one.  We dedicate the candle to someone who is no longer with us. It is a nice moment to remember that person - things we said or didn’t say, things we did or didn’t do, things that person did for us, or said to us, or some other special memory. It’s hard to accept that they are no longer here. It’s hard to understand why we will never be able to talk with them again or see them again.  We hope we did not let them down and that maybe we made them proud.  We get a lot of time to think about this as we walk.

So another day, another church, another candle, and a long list.

But we have also not forgotten those of you still living.  If you are reading this you are probably in line for a candle yourself. Things we said or didn’t say, things we did or didn’t do, or something else between you and us that allows us to take a moment and offer our thanks and ask your forgiveness.

It’s really a good thing there are a lot of churches along this route because this list is pretty long, too.

One final thought about candle lighting - Even though the churches are really, really old; that has not stopped technology from creeping inside.  About half the candle areas are now electronic.  You drop in a coin, a bank of fake candles flashes a few times, then one automatically stays lit.  We try to reserve the real candles for the really big forgivenesses.  If we haven’t done that much bad to you, you will probably only get a fake candle.

If we can’t really remember what it was we did so you need a candle at all, then you will be bundled into the economy-fake-candle-lighting.  1 coin lights 5 fake candles. Our thoughts are with you all the same.