As the days draw closer to departure, my pack is nearly ready.
It’s lightweight. Layered. Thoughtfully considered.
I’ve tested the gear. Adjusted the fit. Swapped out the unnecessary.
I’ve done my best to prepare.
And yet, this past week, I’ve been struck by a different kind of readiness—
the kind that has nothing to do with equipment.
Some of the most important things I’m bringing with me… don’t weigh anything at all.
You can’t zip up forgiveness beside your raincoat.
You can’t roll gratitude into your compression bag.
You can’t tuck humility into a dry sack or clip prayer to your shoulder strap.
But these are the things that will shape the journey.
These are the things that will make the Camino more than a long walk—
they will make it a pilgrimage.
Letting Go to Walk Clear
Traveling light isn’t just about shedding physical weight.
It’s about clarity.
Clarity of intention.
Clarity of soul.
Clarity that makes space to notice the beauty you might otherwise miss.
And so I’ve been asking myself:
What do I need to leave behind—not just in my luggage, but in my spirit?
What do I need to forgive, to release, to surrender?
The Camino doesn’t ask for perfection.
But it does ask for honesty.
It asks us to show up with a willingness to be changed.
What I’m Really Packing
So alongside my trail snacks and blister tape, I’m packing things like:
- Patience—for the slow days, the sore muscles, the unpredictable path.
- Prayer—to hold the silence, to carry the stories I’m walking with.
- An open heart—to be reshaped by conversations, by discomfort, by beauty.
These invisible things won’t take up space in my pack.
But I suspect they’ll carry me farther than I know.
This Week’s Camino Question:
What are you carrying into your next season that doesn’t need to come with you?
And what quiet, holy things are you being invited to “pack” instead?
Thanks for walking with me.
Buen Camino,
Fr. Don+