Do you believe in miracles?  Is the story I’m about to tell you a miracle?

I believe it is.

In Australia, our only saint is St. Mary MacKillop.

In the mid to late 1800s, Mary MacKillop established The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart – a congregation of Sisters that worked in the Outback of Australia. Under Mary MacKillop’s supervision, they set up schools, helped the rural poor, established orphanages and homes for the incurably ill, as well as aged care homes. They helped miners and rail workers when they were sick or injured.

The Josephite Sisters, under Mary MacKillop, battled sexual abuse of young children, and when she exposed a parish priest for pedophilia, another priest sought revenge and had her ex-communicated from the church.

That excommunication was later lifted, and in October 2010, Mary MacKillop was made a saint at a huge ceremony at the Vatican. Jennifer and I were were fortunate to be there in Rome to witness her canonisation.

She’s buried in a church in North Sydney, which is where she lived and worked for many years. It’s called The Mary MacKillop’s Place – and it includes a museum dedicated to her and the Josephite Sisters.

Jennifer’s father, a practicing Catholic and a builder by trade, worked on the church and built its doors.

Jennifer has a brother named Matt. He’s married to a beautiful lady, Megan. Megan has multiple sclerosis, and is badly afflicted. Matt and Megan have always wanted a baby, but didn’t think it was possible – not only because of Megan’s illness, but because she’s 42.

They’d been trying though for many years, without success, and had finally decided that the only possible way for them to have a child was through IVF. But they wanted to give it one last try, so they decided to go to the Mary MacKillop Place, to pray for the child they so desperately wanted.

Megan a couple of years earlier had been given a small portion of Mary MacKillop’s burial shroud by a Josephite Sister. She took that tiny piece of shroud with her when they visited the church.

Matt describes beautifully what happened in the church. They both sat and in their own way they prayed, then Megan got up and went over to Mary MacKillop’s tomb. Matt said that he had no desire to see the tomb, he just wanted to sit in the church by himself.

And as he sat there, two things happened – the sun broke through a cloud and a shaft of sunlight came through a nearby window and literally hit him in the face. At the same time, out of the golden shaft of light, a nun appeared and asked him kindly if he was alright.

Matt said he felt a sudden sense of calm come over him, as though a huge weight had been lifted from him, and he said to the nun: “Yes, I think everything is okay. Thank you.”

Six weeks later, Megan discovered she was pregnant. Two weeks ago the baby was born, premature at 5lb 6oz. Her name is Matilda, but we call her the Miracle Baby.

I get so much work done in the shower.

It’s a very powerful place.

It’s where my PGS really kicks in.

I let the water just wash over me, and I allow thoughts to come. I always used to listen to the news in the shower, but then I realised that my thoughts were being dictated by what was on the radio.

On the one hand, I was using the time productively to find out what was going on in the world – but I was also missing out on that time to just allow my thoughts to wander – to allow my PGS to touch base and talk to me.

There are very few other times in the day when that can happen, because I’m so busy, and often there isn’t time to be still. You need to be still to hear your PGS. And I’m still in the shower.

I find with the movement of the water massaging me, the shower becomes a meditative space. Also the sound of the water. It’s a contemplative place. If you allow it to be.

This morning I had a sudden insight into how to rewrite my PGS sizzle reel. It came out of nowhere, but I knew immediately it was the right way to approach it.

I’d allowed my PGS to speak to me, and I listened.

(Image below from shower scene in Psycho – :D)

I asked my wife Jennifer to give me her take on “asking.”

Here is what she wrote:

Everyday I ask for my highest good.  I ask for the highest good for my family and friends, and I ask for the highest good for my extended family and for every human being on Earth today.

 Why do I do this?  I do this because my intention is to lead a happy, healthy and fulfilled life.  It is as simple as that.

 Why ask? 

Well, I have to get in first thing on waking up and ask for what I really want.  I’m a rogue human being.  I can get frustrated and anxious as my day unfolds. 

I can worry about my children.  I can look in the mirror and see an older me, I can become afraid that world violence is escalating and innocent people are being hurt.  I can get confused and distraught if I’m not careful. 

Now all these rogue states of my mind are pulling me away from what I really want.  They are like old computer programs hidden within my system.  And they can take over. 

Before I know it I’m asking for what I don’t want. 

I’ll say to myself – “I’m stupid,” “I’m getting old,” or “I don’t have enough time.”  I’ll worry and get anxious and I’ll focus on the negative and this focus is as good as asking for the negative to come into my life.

This is why I have to get in first and ask for what I want – and not allow all those negativities to put their order in ahead of me! 

If I don’t ask, then it allows the other darker energies to slip in their requests.  

Here is the book cover, all finished and locked off.

Let me tell you why I’ve gone this way –

One pole didn’t work. No-one walks the Camino with one trekking pole, unless they want to walk around in circles… (thank you Jill!)

Two poles are too dominant in the frame. Being black, or near black, your eye goes immediately to the poles, and away from the essential elements of the design – the Camino way-marker, with the three arrows.

The three arrows are important because they give a sense of the book’s tone – humorous. And they link in with the title – The Way, My Way. My way being I don’t know where I’m going or what I’m doing!

I thought about centering the way-marker, but decided to put the logline on the same level as the snail, which is small and a bit hard to see, given that it’s a very similar color to the way-marker.

What it means is this: your eye goes to the text – a Camino memoir – and then it travels across horizontally to the snail. So by placing the text beside the snail, it helps pick up the snail, visually.

As well, the poles were one element too many. A thumbnail in particular needs to have a simplicity of design. It can’t be too busy. This now has a nice clean look to it – and by cutting down the elements, the eye has time to take in what’s important – the way-marker, the arrows, and the snail.

Most importantly, it looks professional, and it looks intriguing. It looks like a real book. Not a cheapie e-book that’s been thrown together quickly. It looks legit.

Also, it asks questions. And that’s what you need from a book cover. If a question is asked,  the potential reader then wants to know more. So they’ll read the blurb. And if they like the blurb and are intrigued by the cover, and if the price is right, then there’s a chance they’ll buy it.

So, that’s how I’ve got to this final image.

Thank you for all your comments – and now no further discussion will be entered into!!!!!

😀

Here’s what’s called the book’s “blurb,” the writing that goes on the back cover, or as text accompanying an ebook listing –

I gird my loins, posting this – and welcome your comments… and ask you the most important question: If you read this blurb, would it make you want to buy the book?

THE WAY, MY WAY

“I’d never done anything crazy like this before – a pilgrimage walk. I was not a hiker, and I wasn’t a Catholic. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I was a Christian. On the last government census when I had to state my religion, I’d said I was a Buddhist, mainly because they’ve had such a hard time in Tibet and I felt they needed my statistical support.

I was also not an adventure traveller. For me, adventure travel was flying coach. All this backpacking and wearing of heavy boots and flying off to France to walk ancient pilgrimage routes was a new experience, and not one that made me feel entirely comfortable.”

And so Bill Bennett, an Australian based film director, set off on an 800 kilometre walk across Spain to Santiago de Compostela, not sure why he was doing it, and not feeling entirely comfortable. His discomfort increased markedly a few days later when his knee gave out – so the rest of the walk was a “pain management pilgrimage.”

But he kept his sense of humour, and his memoir is at times hilarious but also deeply moving, and insightful.  In the vein of Bill Bryson and Eric Newby, The Way, My Way takes you on a unique spiritual journey, and gives you a hearty laugh along the way.

I'm almost there with the book cover.

But I figure I need two trekking poles, not just one – and crossed at the handles, as though they're leaning up against the wall.

But what do you think?

Would this cover make you want to read the book – or at least read the first chapter to find out if its any good?

This always happens when I blog before I’ve had coffee!

I spelt Anne’s surname incorrectly when I first posted her guest blog – in fact I realised just as the blog was going online, and tried to stop it, but WordPress can be resolute.

So I quickly corrected it – (Maddock, not Maddox) – and my apologies to her.

Now I’m off to have my double espresso, and make Jennifer laugh.

Should be easy this morning, I’m such a moron…

Bill

Anne Maddock, who is a regular poster on this blog, is heading off next week to Spain. She’s going alone, on her first Camino.

And so as with Arlene, I asked her to do a guest blog too, to let us know what she’s feeling right now, with less than a week before she leaves.

If I can speak for the people here on this blog, Anne we wish you a safe journey, and our love and best wishes for a transcendent Camino!

In the meantime, here is her guest post –

An ordinary woman going for a walk 

I am an ordinary woman – a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, student, friend. I live my life the way I believe I have been called to live. I am a Christian – a practising Catholic. I work in education. I love my family. I make mistakes. So .. all very ordinary, your “Mrs. Joe Average”!

On Saturday, however, I can add pilgrim to the list of what defines me. I will leave my home, surrounded by familiarity and love and journey to a foreign land, alone, with no Spanish language, nothing which I could call familiar, except my backpack, my few clothes and my iPad Mini – my lifeline to the rest of my known world.

So, what is this all about? Why am I doing this?

Some call me crazy. Some call me brave. Some just shake their head or shrug their shoulders. They don’t really understand, but … neither do I. For many years I have had the desire to walk this ancient path, to be a pilgrim, to be in Santiago de Compostela and at Finisterre.

After walking I’m still not sure that I will know why. A bit like Steve Langham [of PGS Blog fame] reminds me, I’ll just do what I have to do – take one step at a time. If there are revelations of great significance, I’ll embrace them. If the Camino teaches me, I’ll learn. If the Spirit of the Camino speaks, I’ll listen. If I fall down, I’ll get up.

So, what are the questions?

Can I do it? Am I ready? Will my body carry me to the end? Will I have somewhere to sleep each night? Do I have enough clothes? Do I have too many clothes? Will I learn to follow my PGS? Will I meet any new friends? Will I be lonely? Will there be Camino Angels when I need them? What if I can’t do it? What are the expectations of myself? Of others? Why didn’t I train harder? Listen more intently?  Read more? Ask more questions?

How do I feel? Right now, I am not so sure as the reality hits. During the past week, waves of nervousness, apprehension, doubt, excitement, anticipation, longing and guilt have washed around and over me. It’s been a roller coaster week.

Too late, I am on my way!! This is My Camino. Whatever happens will happen. I will manage the best way I can. There is no right or wrong.

In Bill Bennett’s PGS words I will try to Stop! Listen! Trust! Follow!

Blessings to all

Anne