Amazingly

In this sweet afternoon in October 2015, our family of cycling pilgrims is advancing on a pleasant country road that winds between Coteaux and Danube, in the south of Romania. Arnaud tracts Marie’s bike (7 years old), Hugo and Jean (12 and 10 years old) follow on their mount and I close the convoy.

On pilgrimage to Bethlehem, we cross Europe by bicycle. After six months, we will celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem and visit two associations. We plan to go back on foot with two walking carts. In each country, we participate with joy in mass, even without understanding the language; We start each new day with confidence, at the peaceful rhythm of our soft transport, curious to discover the countries, eager to let us touch by the meeting and to let the Lord act, by welcoming the unexpected. Opportunity to strengthen our faith in the Guardian Angels!

Thus, while we advance in this beautiful landscape, the rear tire of Arnaud’s bike suddenly explodes in hellish detonation. Everyone stops, and Marie, frightened, jumps from her saddle. Arnaud attempts a makeshift repair, but scotch and glue drop quickly. New stop. Well in pain on this little frequented path, we hoist a first, then a second car, in the hope that Arnaud be taken to a store. Without success.

It was then that a vehicle stops. We are racing our breakdown in approximate English. Amazing ! This itinerant merchant returns home after the market: her van is full of hardware, including a lot of new bike tires and all sizes, hanging on the ceiling! Amazed, we are crying for joy. What “Clin God” again! We leave with a new tire, thanking the Lord for this providential meeting.

This overabundance is one of the multiple gifts received throughout this journey following Christ: generosity of the inhabitants, amazing hazards, mishaps source of unforeseen joys. Signs in our eyes of his living presence by our side. Today, ten years after this founding experience of faith and confidence, we in turn welcome pilgrims or cyclists of passage, with at the bottom of the heart of this word of Christ: “Everything you would like others to do for you, do it for them too” (Mt 7, 12).