“You don’t need to see the whole path—just the next step.”
As the beginning of the Camino draws near, I find myself sitting with a strange mix of feelings:
Excitement.
Readiness.
A bit of nervous energy.
And, underneath it all, a deep awareness of how much I still don’t know.
I’ve prepared.
I’ve walked local trails.
I’ve gathered the gear, read the books, spoken to those who’ve gone before.
And yet—I still don’t really know what this pilgrimage will hold.
The Heart of Pilgrimage Is Trust
Every true pilgrimage involves some level of not knowing.
That’s what makes it sacred.
The early Christians didn’t call themselves “believers” or “members.”
They called themselves Followers of the Way —
people who walked without having all the answers,
people who lived with open hearts and willing feet.
They didn’t walk by certainty.
They walked by trust.
What Will the Road Hold?
I don’t know exactly where I’ll be when grace shows up.
I don’t know who I’ll meet.
I don’t know what will be harder than expected—or more beautiful than imagined.
But I believe this:
God will be there.
In the step I take into the unknown.
In the companions I meet.
In the questions that rise.
And in the quiet moments that remind me I’m not walking alone.
The Invitation
Whatever journey you’re on — spiritual, personal, or physical — you may find yourself standing at the edge of something uncertain.
Don’t let that stop you.
Let it open you.
Some of the most sacred stories begin in the fog.
Walk anyway.
God is already on the road.
A Prayer for the Journey Into the Unknown
Faithful God,
You have always been the God of the journey—
not just the destination.
Today I stand on the edge of something I cannot fully see.
There is wonder here.
And there is fear.
And yet… I hear You whisper: Go.
So I will take the next step.
Even if I don’t know what’s ahead.
Even if the way feels unclear.
Meet me on the road, Lord—
in every surprise, every silence, every soul I encounter.
And walk with me through every unknown.
Amen.
Thanks for walking alongside me in spirit.
Buen Camino,
Fr. Don+