The Camino isn’t something you do to check off a bucket list and return to your life as if nothing happened. Something did happen. The person who started the Camino is no longer the same person who finished it. ” ~ Karin Kiser

I suppose many committed themselves to walk the Camino for religious purposes, curiosity, thrill-seeking or to find themselves. I am not literally implying that someone was ever lost. I am stating that search for the true meaning of life.

I started walking the Camino from Sarria for the sole reason of watching my parents’ backs while admiring the surroundings. I wanted to have the peace of mind to know that I am near if they needed me. On another hand, I was afraid that the walk might aggravate my weak ankles and cause further damage.

Though our walk is the final 100km of Camino Frances, we were exhausted on the first day. Perhaps we were not physically ready for it and might also have underestimated the challenges that laid ahead.

Personally, I feel that Camino is like Life. There are some days we have only uphills and other days only downhills. There are the scary days that we have several both uphills and downhills.

Just like Life being a rollercoaster of ups and downs.

Most people love downhill and leave it to gravity to do the job. However, I view downhill like the downhill of life. In accelerating and go with the force of gravity, things can easily get out of control and one can fall flat in the face.

Uphill is strenuous and backbreaking. The walk is a fight against the pull of gravity. It is hard work to overcome each uphill. Just like Life, effort is needed to overcome every challenge.

Most of us encounter challenges in life that drive us to the brink of breakdowns. Some take refuge in our homes, churches or in company of family and friends, others take refuge at work. Some are troubled both at work and found no peace at home. There is nowhere to seek refuge. Thus, carry burdens of worries and sadness with a heavy heart and become emotionally drained.

Now that I have completed the Camino, I feel a sense of pride, accomplishment and also a renewal of my Christian faith. Like many others, I carried pebbles to walk the Camino. I left them along the way at crucifixes, chapels and stonemarkers. Each pebble represented the burdens and worries that weighed heavily in my heart. For every pebble placed, I say a prayer for guidance and peace, I have faith that God and Our Lady will guide me as I leave my burdens in Their guiding hands.

God works in the most mysterious ways. Some days it rained when we were walking and the roads tend to be slippery. I consider that rain is a gift from God to help farmers water their crop and cows to have water to drink.

Without doubt, I felt better each time I prayed and left a pebble. I felt that my heart and backpack becomes lighter. My burdens and worries are in God’s loving hands and have been taken care of. There are days that I felt overwhelmed and wanted to give up, I called out to Mother Mary for help. I felt a push of encouragement and that my mother as my walking companion was more than ever understanding, patient and also supportive.

Therefore, I agree that the person who started the Camino is no longer the same person who finished it.

My faith in God, Jesus Christ and Our Lady has been renewed and strengthened.

Now that I am back in Australia, I feel that part of me is still walking in the forest and along the route to Santiago de Compostela. Perhaps the ‘forest’ that I walk is the walk of everyday life itself. Encountering each ups and downs like a rollercoaster, I muster the courage and remembering the encouragements I received from everyone including strangers wishing me a “Buen Camino”.

Buen Camino! If I can do it, I have faith that you can do it too. The Camino has showed me the true meaning of life and I hope you find the answers you are looking for.