Healing Miracle on the Aragones Route

In 2015, was walking the Aragones route, 

I stopped for the night in Sanguesa. 

I had fallen and broken a small bone 

in my hand that day 

and it was very painful.

The hospitalero showed up around dinner time, 

stamped our credentials, 

and took everyone's money.

After a bit, a dusty desert man came into the albergue. He was tanned as leather but clean, and his bright green pants and orange shirt made him almost look 

like a circus performer. 

When he smiled, his teeth were so white they threatened to blind me!

There was a problem with the hospitalero. 

 He apparently didn't believe this was a pilgrim 

and was refusing to give him a bed. 

After a soft-spoken discussion, 

the hospitalero relented.

No, he wasn't a pilgrim in the normal way,

but he was clean, and weary,

and needed a bed.

And so the homeless desert man was given a space. 

The albergue was not near full, after all.

He was sooooo very lean! 

Like leather stretched over bones, 

but in a sunburnt, healthy way.

I was eating an orange, 

some bread and cheese.

The orange was juicy and sweet 

and I asked if he'd like some?

He nodded and I gave him half 

and motioned for him to help himself to bread and cheese.

We both laughed as the juice ran down our chins.

Later that evening I was sitting at the table, 

making notes in my journal.

My left hand hurt and I was rubbing it, 

absentmindedly.

The desert man came in and asked if I was ok?

I said, 'No, I broke it today."

He motioned for me to give the hand to him.

As he took my hand, 

the hair on the back of my neck stood up 

and I got chills all over.

He closed his eyes, 

and held my one broken hand 

between his two tanned hands.

Gently, he squeezed 

and I felt something happening.

He didn't rub it. 

Didn't massage it. 

Just gently but firmly held it with his eyes closed.

We sat in silence.

After maybe 5 minutes, he released my hand.

There were tears in my eyes.

My hand was healed.

It never caused another bit of pain.

I don't know his name.

I don't know who he was or where he was from.

But he was one of my Camino Angels 

and I wish him Peace always.

Buen Camino.

Annie