Tuning the song of my heart (1)

Day 17 on the Via di Francesco

Sometimes odd prayers pop into my mind. One such is from Common Worship, can’t remember which Psalm it belongs to.

Lord God, just and true,
you make your salvation known in the sight of the nations;
tune the song of our hearts to the music of creation
as you come among us to judge the earth;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ

I woke up as the first first person in the room started getting ready to go, 5am it was but then was walking further than me. I decided it wasn’t worth trying to get back to sleep so I got up too. This morning I had no energy and felt tired from the get go. I got packed up, found a quiet piazza said my Morning Devotions and I started walking about 6.30am. It was a sunny day but for once I was glad it was an uphill start because it was quite cold.

There’s quite often encouragement along the way like this sign someone had put up.

That prayer I mentioned poped into my head and in the quiet of a sunny morning I resolved to tune the song of my heart to the music of creation. I wanted to be present as I walked taking in the wild flowers along the way, the song of the birds, the crops and vegetable gardens I was passing. Up and down hills, through rich farmland, full of olive groves and vineyards. On many days of this journey I feel like I am walking on a golden pathway.

I was just enjoying the beauty of creation. Often on the uphills while I was catching my breath I would listen for the birds and smell the fragrance of the flowers. There were often views around every corner so much so that I don’t take half as many landscapes as I did at the beginning. It’s all so overwhelmingly beautiful.

The agriculture gave way to forest again oak and pine predominating. This I discovered is truffle country. The trail was getting steeper and I was getting more and more exhausted. Thankfully there was along section of track along the ridge line which helped.

Focussing on the details as I was walking did help though. The hotter it got towards the middle of the day the stronger the scent of the broom bushes and the pine trees got. I was longing to finally arrive at my destination and even the inevitable view didn’t seem to bring it any closer.

By this time I was feeling more and more tired and even began wondering if I should get a bus on Thursday which was my longest stage of 26km

Thankfully my destination came into sight.

The hostel and church of Pieve di Saddi has something of a reputation on this pilgrim route. They offer any pilgrim hospitality and food on a donation basis. I arrived and it felt a bit difficult at first because of my lamentable lack of Italian. But I could take off my backpack and my boots and have cool drink from the chiller cabinet. I was too early to check-in but made the most of my time to write in my journal and update my website.

While I was sitting there there were so many pilgrims passing through who would be offered food, and drink including the excellent Italian coffee. It was all given freely and there was encouragement but no obligation to give money in return.

Another host arrived and welcomed me. Then while I was sittting there I could here beautiful organ music in the attached church.

Somehow this connected me back to my prayer, beautiful strains of J.S.Bach somehow also the music of creation.

I got my bed allocated and was just reading quietly when I was called to the communal meal. Everyone was so kind to me. Someone even translated bits of the converation so I could just about follow along. I was able to share that I was a Novice in the Third Order of the Society of St Francis. People are unaware that Anglicans can be Franciscans too even if not many understand what the Thirds Order is at all.

All in all while at the start of the afternoon I had felt an outsider by the end of the evening I was well and truly included. The spirit of love and generosity of this place had caputured me.