Hidden Treasures

It was one of many cool, cloudy, and misty days about 100 miles into our 600-mile French Camino De Santiago pilgrimage walk. I had just learned of an Australian Musician, Dan Mullins, who would also be on a section of the Camino at the same time as we were. I had downloaded one of Dan’s very famous songs about the Camino a couple of days before this and could not get the lyrics out of my mind.? ?“I hope you have found what you were looking for somewhere along the way.”? ?I can’t tell you how many times or over how many miles I sang this song in my head until, on this day, I stopped and asked myself that very question. “Have I found what I was looking for along the way?”

I have an overactive visual imagination sometimes, and up until this point of the journey, I was deeply engrossed in my imaginary stories about the kings, queens, royalty, Roman Soldiers, Crusaders, and others that had walked on the very ground we were walking on. I was looking at rocks, walls, and trees that were present back then. If I saw a rock that looked like a good resting rock, I would sit on it, imagining the people who must have done the same for thousands of years. There are many rock retaining walls along the way, and I would look deep into the cracks for treasure that someone indeed left for someone like me to discover hundreds of years later. All these images flooded my mind as I suddenly realized I had found some fantastic treasures. But they were different from where I was looking for them.

I suddenly emerged from my deep thoughts and the adventure I was having in my head and said out loud to my lovely wife and companion on the way, “Honey! I have found what I am looking for but didn’t realize it! I had tears in my eyes that came along with the discovery. She responded with a puzzled look and had no idea what I was talking about. So… I took the time to explain…

All of this time, I have been looking in all of these crevices, on the paths, in the trees, and under rocks for hidden treasures, and in the meantime, I had been given far richer treasures than I could ever find hidden in a wall. I started talking about Diana, Diane, Barb, Angela, Willard, Matilde, and others and what they shared with us while we walked beside them. We spent quality time walking with these fascinating people and saw parts of the riches from their very souls. We had moments of vulnerability and discovered rich treasures within the very souls of the people we had been walking beside, even if it was for only a mile or two. The treasures are in the souls of the people we are blessed to meet.

So, then, I began to think about how we buried these treasures before discovering them. Most of the treasures we could be blessed with remain buried in the souls in which they exist. Why? There are so many layers over these treasures. It may be due to our unconscious biases, prejudgments, prejudices, or differences. Beneath all of these layers, there are so many riches.

That day, I felt like the wealthiest person I knew. I had discovered the location of a treasure worth more than any tangible thing I could ever receive. The gift of sharing with another soul enriched my life.?

I found what I was looking for along the way.?

As I write this, we are preparing to embark on our version of the Camino: the 7-day, 560-mile Empire State Ride to End Cancer. I am looking forward to this year's Empire State Ride, not only to change the world with the funds we are raising but also to gain more: the lessons and riches from the beautiful souls we will be riding with.?

If you would like to contribute to helping change the trajectory of cancer forever and keep our journey moving forward, please do so using the following link. https://give.roswellpark.org/site/TR/SpecialEvents/General?px=1002275&pg=personal&fr_id=1920

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