Sooner or later, it happens.
You’ve prepped for months.
You’ve packed smart.
You’ve broken in your boots and worn the good socks.
But still — you get a blister.
It’s one of those realities of the Camino that every pilgrim shares at some point.
And when it happens, something shifts.
You stop pushing so hard.
You walk more tenderly.
You listen to your body.
And — maybe for the first time — you begin to realize:
Pilgrimage isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
We all want the journey to feel strong, smooth, and seamless.
But sometimes the places that ache the most are the ones that open us up—to grace, to help, to healing.
When you’re hurting, you’re more likely to:
- Accept help you’d usually decline.
- Rest when you’d rather push on.
- Ask for care instead of offering it.
And that, too, is holy.
Like the psalmist says:
“You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” —Psalm 61:3
And sometimes, that enemy isn’t outside of us.
It’s our own pride.
Our impatience.
Our drive to do it all on our own.
So here’s today’s invitation:
Let your blisters bless you.
Let the discomfort deepen your attention.
Let your vulnerability open you to grace.
Because pain, when it’s held with care,
can become sacred ground.
Pilgrim’s Prayer: For the Places That Hurt
God of the road and the resting place,
When pain slows me down,
teach me not to resist —
but to listen.
In the ache,
show me how to receive.
When I feel weak,
remind me I am still on the way — still loved,
still part of this holy journey.
Let my wounds teach wisdom.
Let my blisters become blessings.
And let every tender step
bring me closer to Your gentle heart.
Amen.