The journey from Barcelos to Ponte de Lima stretched nearly 20 miles through Portugal’s breathtaking countryside. Under gentle sunshine and cool breezes, the Camino revealed itself in rolling hills and ancient pathways worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims.
Around me, fellow travelers battle the inevitable physical toll of these early days. By days three and four, the Camino begins its first test of will. I watch as pilgrims limp past, their faces cycling through determination, doubt, and renewed resolve, sometimes within a single breath. Angry blisters bubble beneath bandages while muscles cry out in protest. The statistics are sobering: perhaps 10-20% of those who begin will surrender to their injuries in this first week. Yet even those in obvious pain press forward with remarkable spirit, each step an act of quiet courage.
While my body moved through this landscape, my mind dwelled elsewhere—with my brother Tom, who wages his own pilgrimage against illness. What strikes me most profoundly is his response to suffering. There are no complaints about pain, no questions about unfairness. Instead, Tom has turned entirely outward in love.
Viktor Frank wrote: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Tom embodies this wisdom completely. When faced with great challenge, he has actively chosen an attitude of strength and divine grace, focusing his energy on loving God, family and friends rather than self.
There is something truly awe-inspiring in witnessing someone transform suffering into such beauty. While I walk the Camino of pilgrims, Tom teaches me what a genuine spiritual journey looks like—not measured in miles covered, but in love freely given despite pain. To love and respect Tom is indeed a gift from God, and perhaps the most valuable lesson this Camino could offer.
Camino Gratitude Portugal 
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