As you travel the final segments of the Camino de Santiago you enter a Lord of the Rings forest. Massive trees surround you, covered with moss and shielding the undergrowth from the sun. There you walk an ancient path carved over a thousand years.

Pilgrims trudge along, farmers drive their cattle back and forth to fields, and rains erode the path. The faithful carry mud on their boots to points around the globe. All the while, the path sinks.

The way of Jesus deepens much like this trail. In some parts of the world the faith appears tenuous, while in others it expands and strengthens. But year after year the work of the Lord changes the ground upon which we move—even if we fail to notice.

The psalmist prayed, you make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11).

In the forests on the path to Santiago the Lord’s presence more often feels real. Here lies a thin place between the heavenly and earthly realms. The Lord works quietly, eroding our misconceptions and faithlessness, helping us turn toward him and follow.

Sometimes it helps to get into a quiet forest, along a path etched into the earth by millions of fellow seekers, to hear a hint of his whisper.

Camino de Santiago 2023

Picture taken by me this past week, close to Santiago de Compostela