On a trek like the Camino de Santiago, shoes form a vital part of the gear. This week we’ll walk roughly 75 miles in 6 days. The route is hilly, with parts of the path hard surface, others gravel or dirt. Rain is always a possibility. A pilgrim needs a pair of shoes to handle all sorts of situations. I brought a pair of trail runners with a Gore-Tex outer layer and a rock plate inner sole.

While rare, occasionally someone slips and falls. Last year one of our group tumbled on a rock and sliced her hand when she hit the ground. A trip to the emergency room left her with several stitches. The next day she bravely pushed on, but with her bandaged hand elevated and throbbing.

Much like the Camino, my walk with the Lord involves various terrains. Slips and falls remain a possibility. But I look to him as I navigate my path. I take to heart these words of praise David wrote to the Lord: You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.

While walking for miles and miles, I watch for spots where my feet might slide. It takes a good pair of shoes to avoid all the obstacles. I grow to appreciate the wide places where I stroll unencumbered. In the same way, this world presents slippery places I cannot avoid. But I can trust the Lord to bring me through, to help me avoid a fall until my path once again opens wide.

Psalm 18:36

Photo by Audrey Langlois