For the past 6 months, we have been preparing to hike the Camino in Spain. Now we are four days and 58 miles into our 137 mile expedition.
One of the coolest things about the Camino is that you keep seeing the same people over and over again. You stay in the same albergues (like hostels that are only for people that are doing the Camino) and end up in the same small towns day after day. You become a community of pilgrims moving through this journey together.
You might expect that the Camino would be competitive- people racing to get a bed in the next town- but it is quite the opposite. Like I said, we have become our own community of pilgrims. We encourage one another, help one another, and enjoy each other’s company. Every time you pass someone on the trail, you wish each other “buen Camino” which means have a good trip. When we walk through small towns along the path, residents will wish us a “buen Camino” and occasionally point us in the right direction when we lose the path. Overall, the people I have met have been incredibly kind and generous. And it keeps getting better.
Last night was my favorite night this far. We spent the night in a Catholic Church that hosts pilgrims free of charge. It is a “donation-based” albergue but they don’t expect anything. Not only do they provide pilgrims with a bed, bathrooms, and amazing showers, but they also cook dinner for all the guests AND leave breakfast out on the table for people to grab at whatever time they want before heading out in the morning. All of the people at the church were so kind and welcoming. They are truly using their resources to bless other people. They are loving the way Jesus calls us to love.
At the church, we stayed with about ten other pilgrims, all from various backgrounds. We shared stories and ate dinner together. Everyone embraced the pilgrim spirit and we became our own microcosm of the larger community that I’ve seen throughout the Camino. We even sang songs together including “Take me Home, Country Roads” featuring me on lead vocals and our Lithuanian friend on the guitar. Then, our two friends from Mexico played a few songs and got everyone clapping along.
The Camino has shown me another beautiful picture of community. Kindness and love go a long way, even beyond language barriers and cultural differences. My feet are sore and my legs a little tired but my heart is so full.
