I’m a planner by nature. This very day I’m leading a group of eighteen people on the Camino de Santiago. Months of thought and preparation went into this trip. I secured housing in multiple hotels with breakfasts, along with dinners every evening. I arranged a bus tour to the ocean on our final day. I coordinated with a service to move our luggage from place to place. I purchased airline and train tickets months ago. I did my best to leave nothing to chance.

The Apostle Paul was a planner. He traveled extensively, starting new churches, and coaching leaders. His many letters form a chunk of our New Testament, and are filled with instructions on building fresh believers into committed disciples of Jesus. Paul set the table and trusted God for the feast. He expressed his hope in this way: So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

While I pray the Camino stretches the faith of the pilgrims we host, I don’t want any surprises on the planning side. Does that mean I’m walking by faith, or by sight? When it comes to hotels, I’m walking by sight. I look at reviews and focus on clean and comfortable. I want nothing to do with bedbugs for myself or my guests—not crossing my fingers on that one.

But with my fellow pilgrims I’m walking by faith. I cannot do a work in anyone’s heart. What I can do is get people situated in a locale where they walk mile after mile day after day, seeking the presence of the Lord. I’m trusting that God will speak into their lives. I’ve seen it happen over and over, and believe it will happen again.

Walking by faith or by sight? I lean toward checking all the boxes. But this week I’m getting a glimpse of how miles of walking pushes me and my friends towards knowing God. So we remain of good courage on our journey, leaning into faith and building convictions to sustain us through the Camino of life.

2 Corinthians 5:6-7

Photo by fellow pilgrim David ZagRodny