The Gatherting

That afternoon we arrived at Grañón with the idea of ​​spending the night in a hostel that had been recommended to us called the Church of San Juan Bautista.

There were many of us pilgrims all together in a group, about forty. The street performer mingled with the affluent industrial businessman, and everyone, regardless of their occupation, carried out the exact same daily activities: walking, eating, and sleeping. The delight of three maidens disguised as nymphs reciting Gregorian odes seduced all the parishioners, and their flowery smell softened the distressed armour of merciless men. After a glass of wine, the timid one who never said anything dared to sing to God with excessive passion. The rambunctious one found harmony and warmth in the chaos of that place. The rich and the poor ate from the same loaf of bread. The Way created a space where the East and West could unite at a single point. We were all gathered there under the protection of two cheerful hostel workers who demonstrated to us what constituted unconditional surrender and, in addition, they managed to get me to understand that the donation was a kind of economic return before the invaluable act of love.

First they satiated our appetite with delicious delicacies, and then took care of satiating our spiritual hunger in a church lit by candles. That moment of reflection was the most important one of the evening because it was then that I learned that I wish the same upon others that I wish upon myself. Then we ended the evening and went to rest in the peace of the attic.