“Singing, humming or simply quietly satisfied, I continue on unknown paths” (Jozien Wijnakker, pilgrim 1700)
In August I read about the Walk of Wisdom in the Gelderlander. Immediately I knew; I’m going to walk it someday.
When I was 16 I participated in the Pax Christi Walk around Den Bosch for the first time. Then singing:
“Go on, go on… in October.
When the short days come.
Don’t hope and say it too soon.
Life finds itself again.
In the unthreatened dreaming of your own heart.
Chorus:
All those who go on long journeys become poorer, get richer, ……
Be wiser.
Why ever and why don’t you go right away? In October. No sooner said than done. Via the Stevenskerk, as a new-fangled pilgrim number 1700, over new bridges onto the paths and into the avenues.
To start with, into the Ooijpolder. Just walking outside and at the same time this tour feels extraordinary. Especially because of the awareness of everyone who walks this same path before and after me.
Winning without a match
The fact that I know how to overcome common obstacles along the way gives me a victorious feeling. For example, read in the booklet: ‘Straight ahead, with ferry across the water (manual operation)’. This turns out to be a very bad one that I finally get my way on my own with a lot of muscle power. Hey, hey, there it is. Now with me as the only passenger back to the other side. And just turning that big wheel.
I also throw my backpack over the fence or the barbed wire at meadows or banks and then hope that I get to the other side myself. Womanly, I take the obstacles. Yes!
Around the scheduled time, I arrive at my guest address. Literally and figuratively a warm bath. I feel tired and satisfied by the physical exertion and the mental relaxation. Nothing is mandatory. I can run at my pace and the distance that suits my condition.
I can take the bus and train home at any time. I can take a break as much as I want. It’s not a competition, it’s not a competition, and there are no medals. I do feel meaning from within that gives me energy to go down this path.
Lighting
Still at home, I’m constantly counting kilometers, looking for addresses, laying out clothes, collecting tips from the internet, … I’m just busy.
Apparently I have the illusion that I can only complete this walk with a sophisticated planning, appropriate (spare) clothing, etc…. My fully packed suitcase was even waiting at my first guest address a week earlier.
Once I’m walking with a backpack and hiking boots, I’m in my element. Most of the precautionary precaution turns out to be unnecessary. ‘Shame’….The finery is shrinking by the day. I lose an earring, lipstick stays in the bag. The one pair of pants that are covered in mud is the best, I keep them on. Thanks to the fantastic weather, I leave my poncho, spare clothes and suitcase behind and walk on ‘enlightened’. It’s true; Anything you leave at home is included!
Behave
The trees let go of their leaves and the leaves are food in the life cycle again. There is a rhythm in my day. In the morning after the first few meters, the letting go of what is no longer necessary begins. My body sorts, digests and integrates effortlessly. I sometimes compare this to full boxes that you quickly shove into the attic to sort out later.
Mother Nature generously welcomes my sighs, lamentations, and tears. She listens, has plenty of time and refrains from giving advice. She trusts that I will figure it out on my own. Trees stand firmly, streams flow freely, the clouds float quietly and the earth carries me.
Brisk
In a good mood, I walk more and more spryly. Happy with my healthy body. Gratefully, I count my blessings. Singing, humming or simply quietly satisfied, I continue on unknown tracks. I run out of worries. At most, my head is worried about the arrival at the next stop. I am consciously present in my step…… And in the next………, feel my feet on the sand, the autumn foliage, the grass and the mud. All that earthy carpeting; an adventure in itself.
Freely connected
My mobile phone stays switched off as much as possible. Mail on auto-reply and What’s-app and Facebook have been secretly viewed, but not actively used until the last evening. What do you mean secretly? That’s fine! Once you voluntarily intend to use ‘social media’ at a minimum, it takes no effort at all. Even though I’m still at home, I start repenting and don’t respond to messages anymore. The gaze goes inwards.
However, I am very happy with my mobile phone as a camera, as a compass and to contact the next guest address. And later it turned out that I also had a pedometer, which keeps track of the count on its own.
Walking alone confronts me with my – admittedly waning – zeal to garner praise and avoid rejection. My mind knows that you don’t get any wiser from the attachment to ‘like’ and ‘dislike’. Still, my autopilot regularly takes over. I am free and unsavoured when I dare to write as if no one reads it, when I love as if I have never been hurt, when I sing as if no one hears me and when I ‘facebook’ as if likes do not exist. Walking, even if everyone sees me, I dare to do like the best.
Receive
Fully enjoy the relaxed feeling of not having to rush, not running, not to the side, to the side…… No duty, pressure or need by others – or even worse – imposed by myself. In my daily life, I create the greatest pressure myself. This walk makes me even more aware of that. Even if they are activities or contacts that I enjoy a lot. Too much fun doesn’t feel fun anymore!
Lavish reception now predominates. I enjoy the lovely weather, the beautiful surroundings and am very content on my own. And I also enjoy the contacts with lovely people and all the beautiful conversations and pampering.
Spontaneously, this tune comes to mind that Rudi Carell sang in 1960 at the Eurovision Song Contest:
“How lucky I am to be a piece of the world
That I know the tunes of the Siskins and the Blackbirds
And that I can participate in all that lives
and may breathe with all that has breathe.’
