A Life Changed

Arrival. What a surreal moment. 800 kilometers. And finally here, standing in front of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. We arrive here as different people. We're not who we were when we left home. It can't be helped. So much has happened, highs and lows, challenges within ourselves and outside of ourselves. We've been shaped by all that we have seen and the relationships that we've made. We are changed people. James was changed as well. There are two depictions of James along the Camino that we find here in the P. They're James the Pilgrim, which sits on top of the church, and James the Mors Slayer who sits on top of the city hall across from the church. One. James is conquering the occupying Mors who ruled Spain for 700 years. One James is peaceful, full of love and grace, which is the real James. Well, the truth is he was both men. At one point, James wanted to call fire from heaven to destroy people who refuse to follow. Jesus sounds like the type of person who might slay some mores, huh? At the end of James life, he was killed for preaching that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. James proclaimed that Jesus is God that he loves and gave himself for all people, even his enemies. That sounds like the pilgrim we know. So what changed? It's simple. The resurrection. Jesus rose from the dead and everything changed and Jesus changed. James two James stands as an invitation to all pilgrims to come and find out what is so special about Jesus. Two Corinthians five 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things have passed away. Behold, new things have come.