As I return from my journey of the Camino de Santiago, I find myself missing the phrase pilgrims exchange to each other—Buen Camino!

The words mean good way or good journey. As pilgrims we cheerfully encourage each other as we meet along the trail, sit down to eat, or go to bed in the evening. Buen Camino sticks in your head and gets in your blood.

I like this catchphrase better than have a nice day, or stay safe (which particularly sets me on edge, because who ever did anything interesting by staying safe). Enjoy a good journey reminds us that we walk into an unknown future, and we hope the best for those on their way. Sending a friend off with vaya con dios (go with God), carries an equally powerful sentiment.

It was said of King David that he walked before God in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart. Those are strong qualities for a journey with the Lord. Perhaps a meaningful send-off springs from those attributes—may you go in faithfulness, righteousness and uprightness of heart.

All said, I will miss declaring Buen Camino! If you and I happen to meet and it slips out, please humor me. The practice will fade, but hopefully the deeper message it conveys will carry on with those I encounter in the future.

I Kings 3:6

Photo from my archives

Along the route of the Camino de Santiago townspeople built fountains to refresh pilgrims on their journey. Some fountains date back hundreds of years. Many still work, the water out of the tap clean, fresh, and maintained by the local municipality. One famous fountain even dispenses free wine, provided by a nearby winery and built to encourage pilgrims on their way.

Walking all day builds a powerful thirst. Instead of wine I carry water and refill my bottle regularly. Preferring the softer drinks, nothing tastes better to me after a long hot walk than an icy cold bottle of Coke.

Just as pilgrims encounter physical thirst, our souls face dehydration of their own. David wrote, As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

My soul yearns for the waters of God. I try other substitutes, but none sustain. His Holy Spirit refreshes and empowers. The Lord is the source, and our souls intuitively search for this relief.

While on his own journey Augustine prayed, You have formed us for yourself O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you. Rest is another word for thirst. You and I thirst until we drink deeply from the fountain of the Lord. Then the waters of God refresh and satisfy—even better than a bubbly fountain of red wine.

Psalm 42:1

Photo: Water fountain along the Camino de Santiago

Long walks are good for my soul.

As I’m here again on the Camino de Santiago I’m reminded how walking, day after day for mile after mile, settles my heart and mind. The sheer physicality helps my body. I enjoy the sun and sky. As I turn off social media, email and newsfeeds, worries fade into the distance. To go to bed tired, after a good meal, makes for a refreshing night’s sleep. How can my soul not benefit?

Ages ago a psalmist wrote of such walks as he praised to the Lord: Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

We might rephrase the words as happy are those who walk and think about God. You and I don’t have to travel around the world to enjoy ambling with the Lord. Just out the door his creation waits. If I make the time, back home I can also enjoy the rhythm of tramping along, one foot in front of the other, enjoying nature and letting regular life slide away for an hour or two.

Keep walking—that’s one of my takeaways from the Camino. No matter where I find myself, I can stroll and enjoy a few minutes in the presence of the Lord. As I do so even the briefest meander transforms into a pilgrimage.

Psalm 84:5

Photo by Jon Tyson

I meet a lot of happy people on the Camino. For many it’s a trip they’ve been contemplating for years. Others, more spur of the moment, hear of the walk and join in with enthusiasm. But always a number of people carry burdens along with knapsacks.

We’ve met a few over the years. My wife talked to a grandson walking in honor of his late grandmother. We mourned with a friend who recently lost his brother. Others walk with cancer. Many hike with anxieties and worries and wrestle with the Lord. It’s an honor to learn of someone’s grief and be allowed in. But I wonder how best to pray for each person beyond their immediate need?

I think the words given by God to the children of Israel fit the call. On their pilgrimage from Egypt to the promised land, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him this blessing for the priests to say over the people:

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Loads of people walk the Camino seeking peace. Personally, I enjoy several days away from the cacophony of life. Others confront God with deep disappointments, regrets and pain. Peace seems impossibly far over the horizon. But something about walking and walking and walking some more moves our soul into a place of receiving. We begin to hear the feedback of our own footsteps, and a peace from the Lord emerges.

Give you peace. We all seek it. Let’s pray this blessing for each other, whether we travel a challenging path or endure a life that seems long and lonely. The Lord is gracious. Turn to him and walk towards peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Photo: A peaceful section of the Camino de Santiago