Camino Gratitude Portugal

Before dawn, I departed the Albergue, knowing today’s Camino journey would cover 21 miles and 45,000 steps. What I hadn’t anticipated was navigating a treacherous two-foot-wide stone wall in the dark during, wet stones beneath my feet, a running creek below, and tree branches assaulting my head. Overnight, spiders had purposefully strung their webs at face level!

After surviving the creek’s challenges, the path climbed steadily upward for several miles, ascending nearly a mile in altitude. The reward?

Breathtaking sunrise vistas from mountain summits. An overwhelming sense of divine beauty—pure love, entirely quiet, and perfect peace. The moment seemed supremely crafted for enjoyment throughout the morning. For two hours, I experienced complete freedom amid natural splendor, embraced by the landscape. My only concern was following the yellow arrows and scallop shells marking the Camino path. A gentle breeze cooled the heat, creating a beautiful pilgrim moment.

I recalled Friedrich Nietzsche’s observation: “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” Yet my profound realization was simply to appreciate God’s beauty and solitude. Grace flowed to Camino Pilgrims, its source obvious. Shouldn’t we always aim to live in communion with God? How to structure life around these gifts, becoming utterly dependent on divine intimacy?