The time has come to start El Camino De Santiago (the Way of St. James). We’ve known this was coming for over a year and truthfully, I had no clue what it was all about until just now, writing this blog, on the train to the city of León where we will start. Here’s a brief recap of what I’ve learned:
History of the Camino
Long before Jesus was born, pagans made their way across northern Hispania in a born again ritual. They finished when they hit the Atlantic Ocean at Fisterra (the end of the world), they burned their clothes and watched the sun fall into the infinite sea. This ritual symbolized a pilgrims death and rebirth.
In the 9th century, Christians claimed to have found the remains of the Apostle St. James (brother of John and the one killed with the sword by King Harod in Jerusalem – Acts 12:2), buried them in Santiago de Compostela and built a cathedral on top of them. They encouraged Christians to follow the path the pagans created, but this time in the name of Christianity to see the grave of St. James and pray to him. St. Julian, archbishop of Toledo in the sixth age, and Pope Clement VIII in the 1500’s claim St. James never evangelized in Hispania and the remains are not his. Some believe the remains may be of a man named Priscillian (or Pricilliano) who had a vast following in Galacia and northern Hispania. Priscillianism remained in Spain for over 60 years after his execution for ‘heresy’ in 385 AD. No one knows who’s remains are really buried under the cathedral.
Today, people walk the Camino De Santiago for numerous reasons. This is mine:
My Story on the Camino
Despite how the Camino originated, my intent is to use this time to seek deeper reliance on the Lord and hear him more clearly. I’m simply going on a two week 322km (200 mile) walk and expectant for God to move.
On the race, I have been embracing things day by day, but I’ve had this pilgrimage in the back of my mind for the last two months. The Lord challenged me back in Kazakhstan on our long, three day bus ride to the Caspian Sea. I was reading the book ‘Kingdom Journeys’, something I picked up from a teammate and have been carrying but put off reading for months. As I was reading, the emphasis on embarking on a journey fully reliant on God to move stuck out in my mind.
At the time, I was sick and exhausted from traveling but instead of just riding out the next three months it got me thinking about deeper ways to press in (especially because I was weak and we all know God gives strength to the weary). I thought of the Camino and how I could open up more opportunity to see God to move in my life (spiritually, emotionally and physically).
The thought, ‘Don’t bring anything with you’ came to mind. I read over Matthew 10 and Luke 10 when Jesus sent out disciples on missionary journeys and compared what they were instructed to bring or leave behind in those chapters. I also thought about the purpose of their journeys and how they were both for different reasons, as is mine. Should I take ‘don’t bring anything’ literally?
So God, ‘What do you want me to bring and what do you want me to leave behind?’ Here’s what we came up with:
Physically bring:
- Small drawstring bag
- Pack of baby wipes
- Water bottle
- 1 underwear
- 1 pair of socks
- Phone (for documenting)
- Wall converter (for phone – sharing chord with a teammate)
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Some euro & the team card (for emergencies because I am treasurer)
- Passport & pilgrims passport
Physically wear (besides the obvious):
- Tank top
- Long sleeve Nike pull over
- Flannel
- Thin rain jacket
- Thick rain jacket
- Quick dry leggings
- Thin pants
- Nike’s
*I will only use items my teammates bring if they offer
Emotionally leave behind:
- past lies about myself
- impurity
- doubts/fear
Goals:
*Pray before leaving daily
*Listen to the spirit and pray for people along the way
*It is not about getting to the next city, but the people you meet on the way
*No WiFi
I am documenting the trip and will share the completed video when I reach Santiago. Please pray for me and my team as we meet people along the way, to have life-changing conversations about God and that He will make a way to provide lodging and food within our budget for the entire journey.
Thank you! Xoxo
