Burgos Bliss

I could become a blissfully familiar with sitting sipping coffee and a Spanish café in the warm fall sunshine surrounded by Henry more sculptures and people walking to and fro the old gates of the city. It is fascinating to watch the pilgrims arriving perhaps by bus, as we did yesterday, and be amazed at the sights.

I spent the morning in the cathedral. It is one of the finest examples of Spanish Gothic architecture (and excess) that one will ever see.  As a person of faith, I am moved by the hundreds of representations of the miraculous nature of Jesus life – his conception, his life itself, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit. From the photos below you will have some small idea of the devotion but the Spanish Catholic church evokes from its adherents. I am also discovering that much of the Spanish approach to the divine is represented by human suffering. Many of the representations are of Jesus humiliation before the crucifixion, the persecution or martyrdom of persons of faith, or the heavenly reward of mortals whose life has ended in witness to Christ.

In acurious moment, if you look at the picture of Pentecost, above, you will note that the blessed Virgin Mary seems to have made it into the Pentecost gathering. I don't remember hearing about that in the second chapter of Acts.

I am not sure if my reaction to all this is humility, or humble pride that I would never be part of something as excessive or gaudy as some of the art and fllorid decorations that I see here. But I can't say that I'm not moved!

I had hoped to go to the Museum of Evolution this afternoon, but the Spanish customer of siesta also applies to public buildings. So I went back to my room and had siesta as well, did a complete repack of my backpack, went out to supper with Heather and Dan after a little team meeting where we decided on a 20 K walk for the morning, and I'm now headed to bed.

Today's Music:  Palestrina Missa O Sacrum Convivium

today's Paces: 13,847

Tomorrow's Prayer Intention:  my friend Jane, with whom I was in college and music school many years ago, is living with, and courageously fighting cancer with a loveliness, wit, and good spirit that is truly inspirational. She deals with good news and bad news with equanimity, and makes me glad that I know her as a friend.