Walking into the unknown on a motorway. [Wise Wednesdays]

 I was starting to doubt my decision and think it might be wiser to give up.

That morning, it seemed like a great idea to walk the 20km or so between the Montserrat mountain in Catalunya and the Manresa Cave where St Ignatius spent a year in retreat, battling his demons and eventually attaining deep peace and clarity of vision.

Many pilgrims had walked that route before. Or had they…?

I thought I was walking a well-trodden pilgrim path, but later discovered it was my imagination. The actual Camino de San Ignacio was a few kilometres West…

The funny thing is, I didn’t know it at the time. So I just kept walking.

I had no phone signal, and the map kept disappearing.

But the next step revealed itself as I went along, with many strangers helping generously when I was lost or unsure.

SENSING DANGER...

The biggest challenge was the busy motorways.

At first, I didn’t mind winding between nature trails and occasional motorway segments. But when it looked increasingly dangerous and long, doubt and fear began to creep in. Then the worst: a road accident. Just before I arrived, two cars crashed into each other on my side of the road. My adrenaline spiked.

The police stopped me as they thought I was part of it (what sane person would be walking the motorway?! Oh of course, a tourist…) A kind couple at a shop had offered a lift, but I’d declined because I wanted to walk - to their great consternation.

Perhaps it was a sign to give up and I started wondering if it was time to turn back or find that ride.

And then a curious thing happened. As I passed the accident scene, traffic came to a standstill and stayed still as far as the eye could see. It felt surreal. I was able to walk another kilometer or two safely and reach a nature trail that took me all the way to destination.

When I arrived at the Manresa Cathedral, they let me into the cave although they were closing, after hearing my story.

GETTING WHAT WE NEED

After meditating in the cave, I asked if there was a message for me to hear and a quiet inner voice said exactly what was needed.

Was it all divinely guided? It’s comforting to see it that way.

[Photo: Contemplating the mystery in San Ignacio’s cave.]

Whatever you call the forces beyond your understanding - God, Life, the Mystery - there was a sense of being cared for in the unknown.

I also realised that a life integrating meditation and transformational practices helps to loosen fear’s grip. The walk was a culmination of the commitment.

Fear didn’t seem to have as strong a hold and it was possible, and even joyful, to trust the unknown - which is useful when there are no maps, tools, or 7 steps to success to guide you…

We live in times of great transformation.

We’re each called to live, work, and lead in new ways.

Fear will come but it doesn’t have to submerge your vision.

And when all seems hopeless, that may be the very moment you discover just how much grace supports your life.

You might think you have to hold it all alone—

and then find that the mystery of Life has been holding you all along.

Where will you trust the unknown today?

[Photo: Divine grace when all seems lost at sea. Manresa cathedral fresco.]

In liberation,

Amina