Dave Dishman

People step out on the Camino de Santiago for a variety of reasons. A field trip for youth or an adventure across Europe for others. Many of us, however, embark with hopes of an experience with God. Whether we find him or not remains to be seen.

For a pilgrim to discover whom they seek, it’s best to know where to look. God reveals himself in nature and in his Word. The Camino presents beautiful pastoral scenes and deeply wooded trails. Add to this handiwork the Holy Bible, and we create a recipe for opening our souls to the touch of the Lord.

Wherever we walk in life, daily time in the Scriptures helps us discover whom we seek. Jeremiah revealed this insight about the Lord: Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

You and I may attain great wisdom, unsurpassed strength and vast wealth, but if we don’t know the Lord, we don’t know squat. If I walk mile after mile, but walk in the wrong direction my journey ends in a box canyon of either doubt or pride.

This week I find myself swayed by the vastness of the countryside, the many pilgrims journeying to Santiago, and my own small place in the crowd. Along the way I hope to hear a whisper from the One whom fellow pilgrims sought, and still seek, not just here in Spain but all over the world.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Photo by pilgrim David ZagRodny

Walking 10-15 miles a day on the Camino requires plenty of water. Fortunately, sources exist all along the trail. Small restaurants and kiosks sell water. Lots of pilgrims carry a backpack with a water bladder (I prefer a water bottle that I refill as needed). Villages sport public fountains. Clean water is essential to a successful pilgrimage.

The path we walk passes by multiple dairy farms. Every farm features a pond or stock tank for livestock, but I never see pilgrims dropping to their knees to drink. Why not? Because no one wants to guzzle after a herd of heifers.

The Lord sent Jeremiah to the people of Jerusalem with this message: For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

These folks rejected the sparkling fountain in the village square to gulp from the pond. Scum in their teeth, they looked up and assumed God blessed them anyway. Not so much. Disaster headed their way, way worse than the intestinal discord brought about by drinking polluted water.

Renouncing pure sources leads you and I to stagnant ponds. We all imbibe from somewhere. Hydration by social media, or entertainment, or bad friendships creates rot. Just as pilgrims need clean water, our souls need the living waters of God. Every pilgrim knows that hydration is key to a successful pilgrimage to Santiago. Every clear-eyed believer understands the same about a lifelong journey with the Lord.

Jeremiah 2:13

Photo by Marco Ceschi

Kathy started the morning in a pair of well-worn running shoes—too well-worn as it turned out. During the day the sole of one of her shoes separated. Duct tape (the universal fix) failed to keep things together. As we limped into a tiny cafe filled with hikers I got everyone’s attention and asked, Does anyone have extra shoes you would loan to a fellow pilgrim?

One lady with an old pair tied to her backpack waved us over. Kathy tried them on and they fit (good enough). She finished the day in borrowed shoes, returning them at the next town where she bought a new pair. Pilgrims are generous.

I’ve experienced locals along the Camino handing out tomatoes, snacks and water. Landowners planted fruit trees along the trail years ago and now every fall apples, plums and chestnuts litter the ground, free for pilgrims passing by. Traditionally those who finished gave alms to the cathedral in Santiago. We encourage our fellow pilgrims to give to a charity of their choice as a part of their pilgrimage.

In this we follow Christian teachings on generosity. Paul encouraged free-handed giving from the church in Corinth: But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

The Camino experience moves pilgrims to give generously. Giving without qualms forms a good take-away from this experience. God loves a magnanimous giver, because it’s a reflection of him who gave so much to us. In our pilgrimage through life generosity leads first to immediate needs met, then on to deep friendships and healthy souls.

2 Corinthians 8:7

Photo by Marta Reis

I’m a planner by nature. This very day I’m leading a group of eighteen people on the Camino de Santiago. Months of thought and preparation went into this trip. I secured housing in multiple hotels with breakfasts, along with dinners every evening. I arranged a bus tour to the ocean on our final day. I coordinated with a service to move our luggage from place to place. I purchased airline and train tickets months ago. I did my best to leave nothing to chance.

The Apostle Paul was a planner. He traveled extensively, starting new churches, and coaching leaders. His many letters form a chunk of our New Testament, and are filled with instructions on building fresh believers into committed disciples of Jesus. Paul set the table and trusted God for the feast. He expressed his hope in this way: So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

While I pray the Camino stretches the faith of the pilgrims we host, I don’t want any surprises on the planning side. Does that mean I’m walking by faith, or by sight? When it comes to hotels, I’m walking by sight. I look at reviews and focus on clean and comfortable. I want nothing to do with bedbugs for myself or my guests—not crossing my fingers on that one.

But with my fellow pilgrims I’m walking by faith. I cannot do a work in anyone’s heart. What I can do is get people situated in a locale where they walk mile after mile day after day, seeking the presence of the Lord. I’m trusting that God will speak into their lives. I’ve seen it happen over and over, and believe it will happen again.

Walking by faith or by sight? I lean toward checking all the boxes. But this week I’m getting a glimpse of how miles of walking pushes me and my friends towards knowing God. So we remain of good courage on our journey, leaning into faith and building convictions to sustain us through the Camino of life.

2 Corinthians 5:6-7

Photo by fellow pilgrim David ZagRodny