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This was a beautiful commentary! I walked the Camino barefoot earlier this year starting in Bilbao, and finishing the primitive way entirely without shoes. You have inspired me to write on the experience. There were innumerable graces to going on a pilgrimage discalcite, perhaps foremost among them the trial of being denied access to the cathedral because I didn't have shoes. God bless you and thanks for writing this!

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Aug 20·edited Aug 20Author

james thanks so much for your encouraging and thoughtful response! it means alot and of course is lovely to encounter another descalzo peregrino. and impressive that you did the primitivo totally barefoot! bravo. i too had not only the experience of being denied entry, but then after slipping on strange sandals I had made out of the thin rubber soles of shoes in order to enter, the police were called as the security guard couldnt see the sandals and thought I had brooked his order. this made for a premature end to my first attempt at attending the pilgrim mass in the evening in santiago. ill look forward to reading what you have to write. my take-away from writing this piece was that I have so much more to share on this subject. God Bless.

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"Nature´s intention is a greater unity with creation, a greater intensity of life, and overall more beauty. It will teach us to dance in the most surprising ways and in the most precarious moments."

Your pilgrim is life-changing for you. May God bless you, Stephen.

You said you are a convert. What faith did you practice before? Or what denomination?

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i was raised protestant. my parents have different backgrounds and i never really lost my faith but also in my 20s never really found a home, i was very intellectually curious and passionate and read a ton which made protestantism a weaker and weaker option for me. it simply doesnt square with the apostolic faith, but remained for years unconvinced about the claims of the rcc, so i withered in no mans land for a while before I became catholic. during this time i visited anglican churches.

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That's a good journey you took. Well, the Lord does say, "Seek and you shall find." I made a long search too and enjoyed it. :) God keeps us on our toes so we don't get complacent. He hides from us as we chase after Him. :) And He loves our curiosity. (haha)

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