“ Stai Attento!”

We are staying at a lovely house with our host Lilica in a small community halfway between Portogruaro and Treviso. I offered to cook spaghetti carbonara and she laughed and said that’s what she was going to make. She insisted on making us dinner and we had a lively conversation through the meal. We toasted Google Translate, that allowed us to talk freely about everything from work to politics. 

She was very concerned when I mentioned that an Italian guy we met on Facebook was helping us on our journey. Andrea is the fellow who planned and marked the Via Postumia.  Lilica warned us of all the scams and scoundrels and predicted that sooner or later he would start asking us for money, or worse. She warned us not to let people know where we are on the trail, especially if we are separated for much of the day. She repeatedly warned us not to trust anyone until we met them face to face.  

Am I too naive?  Too trusting? Perhaps. It does make me think twice about posting my location on a large public Facebook group. But it’s a Camino group! I love travelling on a Camino and leaving my hyper-vigilance at home. I love connecting with pilgrims whether in person or through these groups. 

I think I will risk it. Connections with others are golden. The connection we made with our host tonight was a perfect example of why I want to let my guard down a little. I’m willing to risk a bit for this. I want to be open hearted and believe in the best in people. If I don’t, then I’m left living my life in fear.

I am inspired by the words that Jack Layton left us before he died.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.