"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
Today was a big milestone for us. We reached the Cruz de Ferro, which means "Iron Cross". It's an ancient iron cross mounted atop a tall wooden pole, surrounded at its base by an enormous mound of stones left by pilgrims over centuries.
The tradition of carrying a stone from home and leaving it at the Cruz de Ferro is one of the most spiritually rich practices on the Camino. The stone represents the burdens a pilgrim carries, whether it's sin, sorrow, loss, fear, or the weight of life. Leaving it at the foot of the cross is an act of deliberate surrender. The pilgrim walks up the mountain carrying the weight, places it at the cross, and descends unburdened.
But the cross wasn't only a place to leave things behind. It was also a place to lift others up in prayer. In addition to laying down my burden, I prayed for Adelaide, who's my shadow. Savannah, who's the most compassionate child I've ever known. Wyatt, who's a black bear, (not a grizzly). And Bennett, who's the happiest baby you've ever met.
