Walking the Long Way: A Journey of Presence
My reflections of walking the Camino de Santiago, Saint James Way from Bilbao 800km with no phone, no map, no information but trust. As I learnt I could have had even more, yet we live and thank God we learn.
Imagine setting out on a journey where there is no map, no pressure to reach a specific destination and no ticking clock to push you forward. This isn’t a journey driven by a need to accomplish or achieve, but one where every step is a chance to be fully present. There’s no rush, no checklist- only the freedom to stop whenever your soul feels called to pause, to slow down and listen to the rhythm of your heart.
Walking this way isn’t about miles or time-it’s about listening, feeling and experiencing each moment as if it were the first. You walk at your own pace, tuning in to your body, your heart, and the world around you. You let go of the urge to fill every moment with noise, old stories, or distractions. Instead, you invite a deep quiet, allowing each breath, each step, and each pause to guide you back to the present moment.
Sometimes, the simplest things call for your attention - a leaf rustling in the wind, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the kindness of a stranger who offers you a smile or a story. These moments aren’t interruptions; they’re invitations to be fully alive, to connect with the world in a deeper way. A local might suggest a beautiful beach or invite you for dinner - and instead of hurrying past these opportunities, you accept with an open heart, trusting that the journey will unfold as it is meant to.
This kind of walking doesn’t demand your body’s endurance, nor does it push you to cross a finish line. It’s not about testing limits or proving something to anyone. Rather, it’s about moving with ease, letting go of the urge to hurry, and simply being in the flow of life. When you walk with this kind of presence, you begin to realize that it’s not about getting somewhere - it’s about discovering what is already here. There’s no race, no scoreboard, no pressure to compare. There is only this moment, and it is enough. More than enough.
I am not saying it is always easy. It is everything. I laughed, cried, danced, sang and fell in love. A lot happens!
The camino reflects life’s journey and taught me to keep going. Even when I struggled (not only because I was carrying 25kg+!) one foot in front of the other.
The true gift of walking this way lies in the slowing down. In a world that constantly urges us to speed up, the invitation is to rest in the simplicity of being. Why hurry to arrive somewhere? The real journey is not one of distance but of discovery - a journey to the deepest essence of who you are. In each step, in each pause, you connect with the love that is already within you - the love of your true self, the love that flows through all of life, the love of God that surrounds you.
When you walk in this way, you come to understand that the destination is never far ahead. It’s not out there, somewhere beyond the horizon. It’s right here, in the space between your steps, in the quiet between your thoughts. The journey itself is the destination. By walking with presence, you find that you are already home. The love you seek, the peace you crave, it’s all here, within you, always.
So let your steps be slow and steady, let the road unfold at its own pace, and remember: you are already where you need to be. The journey is not a race to the end but an invitation to live in the fullness of each moment. And when you walk with a heart open and present, you’ll discover that the greatest journey of all is the one that leads you home to yourself.
