No matter how much I read, plan, or pack, I’ve come to realize:
I will never be fully prepared for the Camino.
And that’s okay.
Because the point of pilgrimage is not mastery.
It’s surrender.
It’s trust.
It’s being formed by the journey — not before it, but through it.
A Different Kind of Classroom
There’s a quiet truth that many pilgrims before me have shared:
“The Camino will teach you what you need to know.”
It will teach through:
- The rhythm of footsteps.
- The surprise of kindness from strangers.
- The discomfort of blisters and sore muscles.
- The grace of sitting still when your body—and your spirit—need to rest.
This is not knowledge you can pack.
It’s wisdom you gather along the way.
Lessons Already Unfolding
Even now, before I set foot on the trail in Spain, I’ve been learning:
- To walk slower.
- To hold plans loosely.
- To let go of the need to always know what’s next.
- To welcome the journey as it comes, not as I imagined it.
The road is already teaching.
And I pray I’ll have the humility to keep listening.
The Invitation
Whether you’re preparing for pilgrimage or simply walking through a season of change, here’s what I’ve found to be true:
You don’t have to know everything to begin.
You don’t have to be perfectly prepared.
You just have to be open.
Open to the journey.
Open to God.
Open to being shaped — blisters, beauty, and all.
Let the road teach you.
A Pilgrim’s Prayer for Teachability
Holy Teacher,
As I prepare to walk this path,
quiet my striving,
soften my expectations,
and open me to what You would have me learn.
Let the road become my classroom.
Let the rhythm of walking shape my spirit.
Let the people I meet become unexpected guides.
When I grow impatient, teach me stillness.
When I feel strong, teach me gentleness.
When I feel lost, teach me trust.
I will walk,
not knowing all the answers—
but willing to be changed.
Amen.
Thank you for walking this stretch of the journey with me.
Buen Camino,
Fr. Don+