October 18, Day 13 No zz’s in Zaragoza

 Word of the day: Beatitudes.

Can’t sleep again.  But I am beginning to feel God’s healing powers!   I might just be able to complete the last 10 days of the walk.  Today, I am thinking about the immigrants and the refugees. According to Al Jazeera, Sweden’s  newly elected prime minister from the far right party : “ it aimed to cut the number of refugees resettled in Sweden through the UNHCR from 6,400 last year to just 900 per year during its four-year mandate, introduce incentives to encourage immigrants to return home, and explore the feasibility of deporting foreigners based on “misconduct.”  And it further stated: it will “ ditch Sweden’s target of spending 1 percent of gross domestic income on development aid, and introduce a national ban on begging.”

WWJD!  What would Jesus do?  He would certainly be there, standing alongside and supporting refugees.  The beatitudes give a beautiful example of how we should live.  

Eileen volunteered at a refugee canter for awhile.  European countries, like the US, make life extremely difficult for refugees and immigrants.  Here in Spain, they are exploited; paid less for the same work; and often live in fear of deportation. Sound familiar?  It seems like such a merry go round.  They get jobs, but need long term contracts to sustain them. Often the contracts last for 6 months and then are renewed; not providing the same protections as long term contracts.  Not unlike the 35 hour werks at Walmart and other chain stores so they don’t have to pay benefits.

The crazy thing is, Europe and the US have aging populations.  Bringing immigrants into our countries is the perfect solution to this crisis.  Why are we so intolerant of people of color???! The hierarchy continues.  Western Europe is way more tolerant of Eastern European help than those from Africa/Arab countries. Same in US.  We know who are blessed in our world, for they shall inherit the world!  

2nd word for the day: reflection 🙏 

Today, as I walked along the Eros River, which starts in the Basque Country and flows into the Mediterranean, a multitude of butterflies 🦋 joined me! Mom keeps showing up, offering her support!   

Kayakers along the river in 85 degrees!

Zaragoza is known for the Basilica de  Neustra Senora del Pilar, Our Lady of the Pillar.  

Her feast was my birthday, October 12.  They have a parade and festivities, including flowers 💐 placed on this site.   

                    The peaks of the Basilica 

A portion of the pillar, where the blessed mother presented herself to St James, Spain patron saint 

           One of several alters in the cathedral 

Just the sheer amount of intricacy and artistic details in these churches are overwhelming.  It is really not what Jesus had in mind when he came to earth. So for me , there is quite the irony in these structures, even amidst their beauty.

The Moors ruled much of Spain for almost 400 years from 711 to 1086, before they were driven south and continued their rule of southern Spain and the Kingdom of Granada for a further 400 more until 1492.

Here you can see the contrast of the Moors’ simple tile structure with the gothic Spanish addition

                The intricate tile work of the Moors,

       In contrast to the simplicity of the Spanish 

We’ve got the whole world in our hands.  And how will we ever bring it peace?     Jeez Louise