As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.
Through the generosity of the church I serve, Gateway Community CRC, I was able to go on sabbatical (Hebrew Shabbat means “to cease”). It was an incredible gift to me and my family.
Over the past three months, I have traveled:
- more than 12,000 km (about 7,456 miles) by car
- more than 30,000 km (about 18,641 miles) by plane
- more than 400 km (about 248.5 miles) on foot
- almost 1,000 km (about 621 miles) by train
- and even on two boats!
Good thing gas prices were low. …
All in all, it was an amazing journey.
As part of my sabbatical, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Spain and walk the Camino de Santiago—the Way of Saint James.
The Camino is a pilgrimage journey.
Before I left, I made a deal with my three oldest kids. They all have watches with a “steps” function, and I told them that if, together, they could beat me in daily steps, I would buy them all ice cream when I got home.
Well, they lost! Mwuahaha!
Over one seven-day period, I walked almost 250,000 steps. My highest single day was just over 50,000 steps.
(Don’t worry. They still got ice cream.)
The Camino was a beautiful experience. One of the highlights was discovering just how open most people were to having deep conversations.
It generally took just three questions:
- Hi! What’s your name?
- Where are you from?
- Why are you on the Camino?
And you were off to the races with a robust conversation.
One thing that surprised me was how few Christians I met on the trail. After all, the Camino is a historically Christian pilgrimage journey associated with the apostle James, author of the book of James in our Bibles.
The vast majority of people I spoke with were men and women who had recently gone through some kind of difficult circumstance: a lost job, a cancer diagnosis, a divorce, a death in the family.
For many, walking the Camino was an intentional process of searching for healing, comfort, renewal, or peace. Some spoke about wanting to find themselves, become a better version of themselves, or simply get away from it all.
It was clear to me that most people were searching for something—or, as I would suggest, Someone.
These became wonderful opportunities to talk about life and faith.
A phrase I heard repeatedly on the trail—and saw printed on signs—was “El camino proporcionará.”
“The Way will provide.”
Typically, this phrase referred to the hospitality experienced along the trail:
Forgot your toothbrush at the last hostel?
The Way will provide.
Forgot to book a room and have nowhere to sleep tonight?
The Way will provide.
Thirsty and out of water?
The Way will provide.
And that certainly proved true. The hospitality along the trail was incredible. (Albeit very slow at times. Spaniards don’t always have the same sense of punctuality, or time, that we North Americans do!)
But whenever I heard or read that phrase, I found myself drawn to the words of Jesus in John 14: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
Jesus, the Way, will provide.
As I took part in this pilgrimage, I was once again reminded—and deeply moved—by the God we serve, who is our great Provider: The Way.
What a gift it is, friends, to know the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
There are so many people who do not know Jesus. Many search high and low, near and far, looking for the true “El camino proporcionará.”
I met many of them on the trail.
As I reflect on my time in Spain, I am grateful to God for the gift of knowing The Way. I cherish my faith as the greatest gift I have ever received.
Christian friends, let us not take our faith for granted. Instead, let us be eager to invite others to see and know the true El Camino. It is the greatest gift we can ever give.
At the end of my Camino journey, I arrived at the great cathedral—the Santiago de Compostela Archcathedral Basilica.
Wow.
I don’t know if I have ever been in such a grand and beautiful building. It was astounding.
But when I finally arrived, I was unsettled.
I had experienced a similar feeling when visiting traditional holy sites in Jerusalem.
Many people around me were overwhelmed with emotion after traveling hundreds of miles to reach their final destination, traditionally associated with the burial place of the apostle James.
They were exhausted—physically and emotionally.
They threw their hands in the air and exclaimed, “I made it!”
Then we entered the cathedral and stood in awe of its majesty and grandeur.
But it was more than that.
Everything about the space seemed to shout, “This is the holy place.”
But as Christians, we hear a different story from Scripture.
God’s glory (kavod) and holy presence (shechinah) isn’t confined to buildings, towers, temples, or cathedrals. His holiness isn’t confined to edifices.
Instead, after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, he sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to abide in believers.
So for me, making it to the cathedral was not the pinnacle of the trip.
Rather, it was the sure and certain knowledge of multiple things:
- When I left for Spain, the Lord was with me.
- As I walked the Way, the Lord was with me.
- As I finished the pilgrimage, the Lord was with me.
Friends, what a great delight it is to know that regardless of the circumstances we face—whether in life or in death, in sickness or in health, in happiness or indeed in our tears—the Lord abides within the hearts of those who welcome him.
Wherever we go, the Lord goes with us.
That was the pinnacle of the trip for me. Knowing that each day as I arose, put my swollen and blistered feet into my shoes to start another day, the Lord was with me.
The name of God’s people is “Israel,” meaning “to struggle” with God.
This pilgrimage certainly was a struggle.
But it was also a great joy to struggle, walk, and wrestle in the presence of the God who abides with me every step of the way.
And he promises the same to you, my friends.
Thanks be to God for Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.