As my departure for the Camino draws near, I’ve spent a fair amount of time with maps.
I’ve traced the route.
Marked likely stops.
Read guidebooks.
And tucked away tips from those who’ve walked it before.
But in all this preparation, I know something else is true:
There will come a moment when the map won’t be enough.
The Edge of the Known
It might be a path that’s not clearly marked.
It might be a moment of fatigue or fog or uncertainty.
It might be a change of plans, a sore ankle, or just the realization that
no map can tell you what your soul will need that day.
That’s not failure.
That’s pilgrimage.
Because that’s when we begin walking not just by direction —
but by discernment
Grace Beyond the Guidebook
We like certainty.
We like knowing exactly what’s next.
But the Camino, like the life of faith, invites us into something deeper:
Trust that grace is still ahead of you —
even when the way is unclear.
That trust doesn’t eliminate the need for preparation.
But it transforms it.
Because we begin to rely not just on maps,
but on the God who walks with us.
The Invitation
So here’s what I’m praying for in this season of almost-going:
- Eyes to see what the map can’t show.
- Ears to hear what the Spirit is whispering.
- A heart steady enough to trust when the road takes a turn.
When the map runs out, God’s presence remains.
And that’s more than enough.
A Pilgrim’s Prayer for When the Map Runs Out
Faithful Guide,
There will be days when the trail is unclear,
when the signs are faint,
and when my certainty gives way to hesitation.
In those moments, walk close beside me.
Remind me that I don’t walk alone.
That the journey is not about perfection, but trust.
That grace is always ahead—even when I can’t see it.
When the map runs out,
let my spirit lean into Yours.
And lead me, step by quiet step, into the unknown.
Amen.
Thank you for walking this road of trust with me.
Buen Camino,
Fr. Don+