Art, Nude Beaches, and Leaving as Much Litter on the Road as Possible (Part 3)

Littering as Much as Possible

Finally, we’re to the littering portion of today’s talk. I didn’t litter. In fact, I carried an empty Diet Coke can tied into the waistband of my hiking skirt for seven miles through farm country just to make sure I didn’t litter. However, I was challenged to throw down everything I could on the road, and from here on out I am going to as much as possible.

While walking I kept thinking about the things I purged from my backpack this morning before setting out: About 100 pages from my guidebook, the extra bottle of hand sanitizer, receipts, tickets, and other non essentials. Altogether I bet I eased my load by about one pound.

Crossing farm fields, villages, sun-soaked roadsides and several miles, I repeatedly kept thinking about what else I can throw out. A phrase kept echoing through my mind:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… (Hebrews 12:1).”

As I walked I thought about all the things I need and hope to litter on this trail, leaving it behind before I come home.

That troll who made my life miserable? Ugh. Dear God in heaven I hope I can leave that behind.

That hurt from the stuff I’m not supposed to talk about? Yep, that too.

Thing-by-thing I thought as I walked and walked, asking God to help me see, acknowledge, address then drop for good the things that no longer serve me. If it hinders or ensnares, I want to leave it by the rock-strewn path just under the gold arrows and shells that point pilgrims on their way. My thoughts on leadership and “shoulds”? — Let’s leave that by the Roman bridge. My blockages about writing? Throw that crap downstream.

Then, since we’re on the Way of St. James and all, James popped up and inserted his opinionated, intrusive self and added on his own writings, Chapter 1, verse 2–5:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Ugh. James. I’m in your ‘hood so you think you can get all up in my biscuits?! Pure joy? Consider the troll pure joy? The stuff that we don’t talk about? That can make me mature and “lacking nothing?” James, James, James— You’re a bossy, opinionated, intrusive lad, aren’t you?

So, here I type, making a mental list of things that hinder and ensnare, contemplate as I’m walking west every morning I’m burning through miles and memories, and looking for ways to litter as much as possible along The Way.

#RBwalkson #litterasmuchaspossible #artandcommunityontheCamino

#jesuslovesthetroll #andimworkingonit