A Pilgrim's Dream Come True
To embark on a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago has been a dream of mine for the last few years and now that I have walked the Camino with Duperier’s Authentic Journeys, I can honestly say it ranks as the most incredible experience I have ever undertaken, anywhere!
As I marched toward Santiago de Compostela, I could feel the spirit of the Camino with every rhythmic step in my stride; there it was, alive and palpable and pulsing within the fiber of my body and soul. Through sleepy villages and bustling cities, through wide-open fields of grain and forests laden with eucalyptus and pine, I forged ahead along a sacred path steeped in Camino culture for more than a thousand years.
While my faith in humanity never really waned, it did undergo a renaissance nonetheless because of all the unexpected kindnesses bestowed upon me by benevolent souls, the shared moments with fellow pilgrims from all corners of the world united in the common goal of pilgrimage, the welcoming smiles that could light up the world, and the blessings of God and of Saint James who gave me strength when I needed it most. Although I didn’t realize at first, a transformation was taking place and every day, I grew more spiritual and closer to God than I had ever been in the past.
Never did I want for anything except more hours in the day, and the night, to walk the Way. Getting caught up in the Camino experience was what I looked forward to with each day’s dawning and I couldn’t wait to grab my trusted staff and backpack and revel with every breath, in every step along the way.
There is an old Chinese proverb that reads, “He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left.” This couldn’t ring more true for my experience. I have changed and for that, I am eternally grateful to all who answered my prayers and granted me this life-changing experience. Dreams do come true! And now, it’s time to give back, even more than I did while I was on pilgrimage.
Read more about Jeff’s Camino experience on his website Eurotravelogue, on Twitter @JeffTitelius and @PilgrimTravelog, and on Facebook.