There’s a difference between a tourist and a pilgrim.
Tourists seek experiences. Pilgrims seek transformation.
Tourists take pictures. Pilgrims leave prayers.
Tourists move through a place. Pilgrims let the place move through them.
As I prepare to walk the Camino de Santiago, I’ve been asking myself:
Am I only preparing my feet? Or am I preparing my heart, too?
More Than Miles
Walking the Camino is a physical challenge.
There will be tired legs, aching shoulders, and blisters — probably more than I want to admit.
But beyond the physical effort, there is a deeper journey unfolding.
It’s the journey of the heart.
The interior Camino.
The quiet, often unspoken work that God does while we walk.
It doesn’t require the perfect pace or the perfect prayer.
It only asks for openness — a willingness to be shaped.
What Is a Pilgrim Heart?
A pilgrim heart is:
- Open to the presence of God in unexpected places.
- Humble enough to receive help, grace, and kindness.
- Willing to be interrupted, changed, and even rerouted.
- Quiet enough to listen.
- Brave enough to ask, “What is this journey teaching me about who I am — and who God is?”
And most of all, a pilgrim heart trusts that the walking is part of the prayer.
The Invitation
You don’t need to be walking across Spain to live as a pilgrim.
Whether you’re preparing for the Camino, caring for others, navigating a hard season, or simply showing up for your daily life — the invitation is the same:
Walk with a pilgrim heart.
- One step at a time.
- One prayer at a time.
- One quiet “yes” at a time.
A Prayer for a Pilgrim Heart
Loving God,
As I prepare to walk this road, shape in me a pilgrim’s heart.
Open my eyes to see more than the path.
Open my ears to hear what silence speaks.
Open my spirit to receive what only the journey can give.
When I grow tired, teach me to lean on grace.
When I feel lost, remind me You are already ahead of me.
When I am afraid, help me take the next step anyway.
Let this walk change me — not by arriving, but by trusting.
And may I return not just with stories,
but with a heart made new.
Amen.