Posts by Carol Guttery

Under a drenching rain, a woman walks upon the scene of a man who has fallen on the Camino. He is surrounded by a group of pilgrims who have come to his aid. Others having attended to his physical needs, one pilgrim does what’s left to do: sit silently and hold his hand. As she stands in her wet boots, the woman takes in this extraordinary scene, this landscape of kindness.

Through the daily journal accounts of her journey, a woman comes to understand that the Camino provides not only for our physical needs, but offers emotional, psychological, and spiritual benevolence, too.

Nearing Santiago and her euros now exhausted, a woman anticipates her first coffee of the day, only to discover the establishment doesn’t take credit cards. Two pilgrims she’d met earlier that morning come to her rescue and spot her some change, filling her cup with coffee and kindness.

At the summit of an especially grueling climb that tested her fortitude, a pilgrim is greeted by an Anatolian shepherd that reminds her of a late, beloved family pet. His giant but gentle presence uplifts her with the comfort and encouragement she needs to carry on.

When a man passes a small church in a mountain village, a woman beckons him to see inside. His experience leaves him feeling more connected to God, himself, and everything.

A pilgrim reflects on how the Camino led him to seek foreign experiences as a traveler rather than as a tourist for more enriching encounters.