May 3, 2012 DAY 10 — Quakertown to Allentown, PA (18 miles)

The Road to Emmaus

I am walking on the Road to Emmaus today, so it makes good sense for me to have this gospel story on my mind. In my story, unlike the original, JC does not apparate before me on the path and he does not ask to walk with me for a short while. At the end there is no breaking and sharing of my sandwich bread (leftovers from Colette’s pique-nique yesterday), a communion to help me wake up and see more clearly. I love this bible story because it’s all about our connecting with each other, and when we do, we see more deeply and recognize that which was unrecognizable before. The English word “recognize” comes from the Latin prefix, re- (again) and the Latin verb, cognosco (to know)…therefore, “to know again.” To recognize suggests that I once knew something, somehow forgot, and then I get to know again, but this time at a much deeper level. So what do I recognize or re-know today? I recognize that if I look really hard, I can see Nathaniel walking in front of me. I see he’s marching purposefully, wearing his Quebecois cousin Justin’s boots and holding his small walking stick. If I look even harder, I recognize that his spirit is completely whole and intact, unmarred by the cruelties of BDD and OCD. I also see that there is an unmistakable urgency in his stride as he moves forward. He keeps turning around, urging me to follow more quickly (he’s not big on rest stops). If I get distracted, he ends up way in front of me and I have to scurry to catch up. I also recognize that Nathaniel is taking his leadership job for this pilgrimage quite seriously. Finally I get to know once again that all I really have to do is to keep pace and let him show me the way.