April’s Expedition Squad has only been on the field for a few weeks, and the stories pouring in are just inspirational. Here, Chelsea Ray tells of what she learned during a five-day trek her squad took on a section of the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
A journey of the body inevitably becomes a journey of the soul and spirit. We see this played out in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It really is a dangerous business, stepping out of your front door, for you cannot know what lies ahead.
My journey began a mere two weeks ago, and already it has become more than I ever could have imagined. I met a portion of my team in the New York, where we were able to bond a bit before getting on a plane for Spain. By the time we landed in Spain, it was very clear that I had a terrible case of strep throat. This was not going to limit me, so I pushed through with the help of my teammates who came much more prepared for this sort of situation.
There I was, wandering the streets of Barcelona with a heart full of hope and a body unwilling to cooperate. It was a beautiful time of relying on the Father for the energy to keep going and on my teammates, who were all so wonderful through it all. Thankfully, I had been on antibiotics long enough that when the time came to start our trek on the Camino de Santiago, I was nearly strep-free.
Our journey on the Camino began on a bright, early morning. I thought it would be mostly in the wilderness, in tents, and with very little civilization. And although it was a lot of wilderness, we also passed through small villages, where we were able to stop and sleep at night.
That first day, we walked for about 20 miles, passing through villages and visiting beautiful churches all along the way. As we neared the end, my feet were screaming, begging me to stop, to sit down and never get up again. It was a long day, but one filled with lively conversation and the beauty of the landscape. The next few days were much the same. I ended each day’s trek completely exhausted, my entire body aching from the long walk.
To begin the day, we often started in silent meditation. My meditation was often simply, “Abba, I belong to You.” Over and over and over. On the fourth day, however, my meditation changed. As we trudged through ankle-deep mud and worked our way up slippery hills while rain pelted our bodies, I had to constantly remind myself that the joy of the Lord is my strength. By the time we reached our destination, I had a joy in my heart I didn’t know I could have in such difficult circumstances.
The last day finally arrived, a short 15-mile walk that promised true rest at its end. The time I spent in silent meditation with Jesus was beautiful that day. Jesus and I talked about a great many things, and He reminded me of His undying faithfulness. Even though I had a rhythm to my walk and a final destination in sight, the trail still took a toll on my psyche. But my squad was right there with me; we encouraged one another, pushing each other to finish hard.
Eventually we made it to Burgos, and rest. It was the biggest relief to set down my 50-lb pack! I had done something I never thought I could and had done so with a relatively good attitude! I knew it was God’s grace in it all. He strengthened my weak knees and surrounded me with others to encourage and be encouraged by.
The journey forced me to push past my flesh and operate out of my spirit if I was going to finish well. It was a death and a rebirth. It was a time to really meditate on the Lord and His goodness when it wasn’t easy to do so. The Camino didn’t change me, but it introduced me to a version of myself I had rarely met before.
