We didn't bring many books with us, but we did bring 3:
1) Our excellent guide and map book for the Camino itself, that identified all the places to see and why, right down to the coffee stops.
2) A just as excellent historical and cultural guild to the Camino, packed full of detailed information on every piece of architecture, every church and chapel, every bridge - it's been a must read the night before to prepare for the next day kind of book
3) the Bible.
Our third book seemed an appropriate choice, despite the fact that neither of us subscribe to any organized religion. We find too much hypocrisy in all of them, in the past and in the present. But it's been pleasant to dip into it and read some of the Old Testament chapters, with their wonderful stories and allegories, and their angry God. I have always loved the song of Solomon, so that got another look at. Then some of the kinder, gentler New Testament's Apostles, the Acts, Revelations. and of course St. James.
His Epistle is very short, only 5 chapters, so I read it several times, thinking I would find one takeaway from each chapter that might actually be able to be incorporated into my life. This is what I came up with.
Chapter 1: Let every man (and woman!) be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.
Chapter 2: Doing good is better than having faith.
Chapter 3: The tongue is a small part of the body, but if it is not tamed, it can defile the entire body with the poison of boasting, bitterness and envy.
Chapter 4: Our lives are vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes, so be humble. Fights and wars that come out of lusts and greed are ultimately useless.
Chapter 5: Living the good life is ignoring others upon whose backs it may have come - give back.
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