As the date of my Camino departure draws near, I’ve been doing a different kind of preparation.
Not for my feet. Not for my packing list.
But for the part of the journey that’s harder to quantify:
my soul.
Because the Camino is more than a walking holiday.
It’s more than a challenge or an adventure.
It’s a walk along “the Way.”
The Way Before There Were Christians
Long before believers were called Christians… they were simply known as followers of the Way.
You’ll find it in the Book of Acts:
“Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord… so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”
(Acts 9:1–2)
What a name.
Not a doctrine.
Not a denomination.
Not even a building.
Just… the Way.
That name has stayed with me. Because that’s what pilgrimage is all about.
It’s a movement. A journey. A following.
Not toward a destination on a map—but toward a deeper encounter with God.
Walking with Jesus
The Camino has its own name: The Way of St. James.
But deeper still, it is a way of walking with Jesus.
And that means preparing—not just to walk to Santiago, but to walk more closely with Christ.
And that preparation?
It’s not just about praying more or journaling better.
It’s about surrender.
About creating space.
About letting go of expectations, old guilt, or the desire to control how “holy” the experience feels.
In a world where we’re trained to measure progress by what we can produce, walking the Way is radically countercultural.
No finish line.
No productivity metrics.
Just footsteps, silence, wonder, and grace.
This Way, Together
So as I prepare to leave for Spain on August 3rd, I’m not just laying out trail socks and foot powder.
I’m trying to unclutter the inner rooms of the heart.
To prepare to meet God in bread, in birdsong, in the breath between the steps.
And as always, I want to invite you to walk with me—not just online, but spiritually.
Whether you’re reading this from a bustling city, a quiet village, or your own sacred stretch of trail:
You, too, are a follower of the Way.
And Christ is still calling:
“Come, follow me.”
Follow Along the Way
I’ll be blogging from the Camino beginning August 3rd—sharing photos, stories, and spiritual reflections as they unfold (and perhaps a few sore-footed prayers along the way).
You can follow the journey here:
👉 ddavidson.ca/blog_anglican_priest
Until then, may your path be blessed with silence, surrender, and small glimpses of grace.
Buen Camino, friends.
Fr. Don+