Carry One Another's Burdens

Being here just past Reto always reminds me of the true story of two lifelong friends, Patrick and Justin, who walked the Camino together. They even made a documentary about it called, I'll Push You. Patrick pushed Justin in his wheelchair, the entire length of the Camino from St. John Pie, deport all the way to Santiago. By the time Patrick and Justin made it to the base of Reto, Patrick had nothing left in his legs. They were shot and he was going to be the most difficult climb of the entire journey. This is where something absolutely amazing happened. The community of Pilgrims, friends whom they had made along the way waited for Patrick and Justin at the base of the mountain. This band of pilgrims pushed and guided and carried Justin up to the top of Rero. This is a story of Christian community or what Christian community is really meant to be. The Apostle Paul tells us to carry each other's burdens, and in so doing, you will fulfill the law of Christ. What an odd thing in this world that we would seek to carry each other's load, but in Christ, this is exactly what we are to do. It's not that just Jesus says, give me your burden. It's that we, the community of believers are to become the hands and the feet of Jesus and carry each other's burdens. On the Camino, we often get to see the best that humanity has to offer to me. This is the community that Jesus is forming. Welcome to a new way of living in Jesus Christ, our companion. You have given us friends to love us and to be loved by us. You have traveled with us on our journey. You have encouraged and strengthened us through the gift of one another. May our community continue to be our traveling companion, encouraging us when we doubt upholding us, when we fall and nurturing us with your presence.