Day 25, Rabanal del Camino to Ponferrada. 20 Long, steep, straight up, jagged rock, straight down miles for 9 hours.

Buenos Dias Peregrinos,

I am so glad today is finished. My whole body hurts! Especially my calves and ankles. It was brutal and even though we started out at 38 degrees boy we were sizzling in the afternoon. As beautiful as they are I am done with mountains. Well at least until we get to Santiago.

Today was finally the day that we climbed to La Cruz de Ferro where there is a cross that you leave a rock or memento that represents the burdens you wish to leave behind. As Christians we have already laid everything at the Cross of Jesus Christ so we brought rocks instead from Maya and Jojo that they had painted and Jim got a "Gotta Believe" rock from Rick Norman too. Those rocked looked so pretty there.

One thing that I kept noticing today as we climbed higher and higher was that our path ran very close to the road all day long. My mind kept telling me that it would be much easier to just hop on the road where it was smooth and walk along the edge instead of on the path with all the terrible rocks were that seemed to be endless. The thing is though many people have died along the roads here. Many more than on the paths. Even though the road may have appeared to be the easier choice in reality it wasn't the right choice. Isn't that the way life is?

Sometimes it is easier to go with the flow out in the world. The path towards Christ seems so much harder. It feels like there are so many can'ts and don'ts why not just take the smooth road after all they both are going the same direction aren't they? The answer is no. I know it and you know it. It can be hard to follow Christ at times because following Him often leads us out of our comfort zones. I mean just take a look at me and where I am right now. But let me say I have never been sorry I followed Him. Not once. I have no idea where He is leading me exactly but I do know there is no better place to be than wherever He is.

God Bless!

Love, Nae!