Author Archives: deandondavidson

After a travel day so long and so chaotic that Dante might have made it an extra circle of hell, we finally arrived at our hotel in Tui—and miracle of miracles — it was the first thing that went off without a single hitch. No lost reservations, no language barriers, no need for interpretive danceContinue reading “Walking the Camino Episode 2 — At Last, a Trouble-Free Moment (And a Seafood Platter Fit for the Apostles)”

One defence mechanism I’ve developed over the years—besides pretending to know how to fold a fitted sheet—is the ability to laugh in the midst of discomfort. A spiritual discipline, if you will. And today, dear reader, I offer you this tale of travel, turbulence, and tailbone trauma, with the hope that you, too, might findContinue reading “LORD, GIVE ME PATIENCE… AND I NEED IT NOW!”

The day has finally come. After months of anticipation, prayer, training walks, gear lists, and heart-deep conversations, I find myself taking the very first steps of a journey I’ve dreamed of for years: walking the Portuguese Camino from Tui to Santiago de Compostela. Day One doesn’t begin on the trail, though. It starts in theContinue reading “Walking the Camino – Day One: The Journey Begins”

Tomorrow, I go. After months of preparing, praying, packing, and walking in spirit—now it’s time to walk with my feet. The journey to Spain begins tomorrow,and with it, the unfolding of something that’s been quietly growing in my heart for a long time. But before I take that first official step on the Camino, IContinue reading “On the Eve of the Journey”

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 toContinue reading “Let Your Blisters Bless You”

In the early days of walking the Camino, it’s easy to think the goal is distance. Get to the next town.Reach the next landmark.Make good time. But then something shifts. Your legs grow tired. Your feet start to ache.And suddenly, the focus changes — from arriving to being. One of the most surprising lessons ofContinue reading “Learning to Walk Slower”

When we think of beauty on the Camino, we often imagine grand vistas — rolling hills, Gothic cathedrals, and golden light falling on ancient stones. And yes, those moments exist.But more often, beauty comes in small, almost invisible ways. It’s a flower growing in a crack on the path.It’s a pilgrim handing you water beforeContinue reading “The Beauty You Don’t Expect”

There’s a rhythm that only reveals itself after you’ve been walking for a while.At first, it’s all planning and pacing, calculating kilometers, counting steps.But then something shifts. You stop obsessing over distance.You stop asking how far you’ve come or how much farther you need to go. You just… walk. And when the rhythm settles intoContinue reading “Keep Going Until the Peace Comes”

As I do the final checks on my pack—tucking in socks, tightening straps, weighing each choice—I keep hearing the same question in my heart: “Do I really need this?” Not just the second pair of pants or that just-in-case book. But everything I’m carrying into this journey.The unspoken burdens. The invisible weight. We all carryContinue reading “What Are You Carrying?”

There’s something curious that happens the closer we get to setting out on pilgrimage. The logistics become clearer—flights are booked, backpacks packed, prayers said. But the soul questions?They get quieter… and deeper.Harder to name. When I first dreamed of the Camino, I thought I knew what I was hoping for. Clarity.Healing.Direction.Some holy “aha moment” toContinue reading “Let the Road Speak”