Downhill

Day 12 on the Via di Francesco

The.day started at something past 4am with the certainty of the overwhelming grace of God in his completed work of atonement in the Ascension and His continual work of intercession.

I must have drifted off at some point as next time I was semi-conscious it was 5.30ish. I could see dawn was breaking so I got dressed in my warmest clothes and went outside. The views were spectacular but different to yesterday. The sky was highlighted in pink and clouds were in the valleys an obscuring the mountain tops.

I said my Morning Prayer and Community Obedience there on the mountain top of Saint Francis. It was mind blowing. It was extra special as I was praying for the Durham Area that day.

I set off at 8.30 after breakfast with the Austrian pilgrim who told me he had thought of the Third Order but the rules were too strict. I think I’m glad I ended up in the Society of Saint Francis!

Brother Wind was playing and I am sure I could hear the trees creaking as I climbed the next hill. Thinking about playing I reckon Mother Earth and Sister Water had a great time creating the mud which seemed to be a daily feature.

It seems like you can’t go downhill without first going uphill. Eventually though it was all downhill. As always I was trying to concentrate on the details as I walked luke this field of gold.

Or these flowers including the first roses of my pilgrimage.

I was getting weary though. A disturbed night and something of a comedown from the emotional heights meant I was getting desperate for my destination. I had booked at a B&B which involved a 15 minute climb at the end.

After showering instead of a much needed nap I dragged myself down into town to a launderette. The joys of pilgrimage. It wasn’t the greatest of meals that evening. It was rather a flat end to a wonderful day.