Camino Gratitude Primitivo

We walked the final 40 km from Ribadiso to Santiago. I have never spent eight hours splashing through so much mud and water. It was a humbling way to finish; the experience strips away any ego from a 320 km trek across northern Spain. After weeks of struggling through mountains and valleys, the rain has a way of reminding you how small you really are.

The Primitivo has been my favorite route. The mountain ranges are spectacular, and the pilgrims seem a bit hardier, more willing to “suffer gladly.” The 10 km of vertical climb was tougher than I expected, but the reward was the glory of watching the sunrise from the high peaks each morning.

I felt an overwhelming closeness to God throughout the journey; in the sky, the wildflowers, trees, and the sight of wild horses and cattle. While many pilgrims are searching for peace, I’ve found the “secret” to encountering Him on the trail is silence and the inward calm it brings.

Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote: “The perfection of man is being open for the mystery, being available for God, for his grace, for being claimed ever anew, for mission.” That perspective changes everything. Perfection isn’t about reaching a destination or finishing Camino; it’s about being availability. I’ve realized my purpose of life is not adventure, the purpose of adventure is love.

Buen Camino!