24. Our Little Camino Group: Joy

By the time we reached the middle of the road, Joe and I had met two other couples and several individuals we simply, once we met them, could not walk without. Without planning it, a new family of pilgrims marching to Santiago was born. While we didn't always walk side-by-side or sleep in the same town at night, Our Little Camino Group remained together by text, Whatsapp, hostel-sharing, coffee stops and almost nightly shared dinners until the very end.

Joy is a young woman from Chicago, smart as a whip and humble as a monk. From the moment we met, I was struck with how her name reflects exactly who she is.

Joy

Joy

Shines

Joy

Radiates truth

Like sun glinting on a silver tray

Joy

Holds vulnerability

Tenderly like a baby

Rocking gently with a quieting hand

Joy

Laughs and the world stops to listen

As if a diamond stood up to sing

As if there were no more perfect a sound

If we could, we would swallow that sound ourselves

Joy

Has shared a path with Hardship but gone forward on a different road

She has been ransomed by Sorrow but refused to pay his price

She celebrates her freedom in old boots and blisters and a puffy blue coat

Here she walks arm-in-arm with Beauty and Grace and Dignity

As she steps lightly, courageously, mysteriously into herself

~ Cheryl Murfin, on the Camino de Santiago