Faith Over Fear
Faith Over Fear
by Sarah Daley | Mashpee, MA
In 2016, I was full of fear! My fears were controlling my life. I was questioning my marriage, my friendships, my job. My fears kept me stuck in these relationships and situations. That year, I walked my first Camino. On this six-week journey, I began exploring the sources of my fears and why I was paralyzed by them. This exploration set me on a path of discovery. Walking every day, away from all the things I was afraid of, allowed me to recover my faith, my spirituality, and the idea of being more mindful and present in my life.
Over the years, I have learned to trust my instincts, to have faith in myself and my capabilities. Crossing the Pyrénées in a storm will do that for you! Walking for weeks with just two pairs of pants, two shirts, two pairs of socks and underwear, a sleeping bag, a rain poncho, and a few essential toiletries teaches you what you can live without!
The rhythm of the Camino is simple. Get up! Walk! Sleep! Repeat! You have no other objective except reaching your next stop. It’s not always easy, but with fewer distractions, you can just keep putting one foot in front of the other. You are aware of your surroundings. The sound of songbirds is soothing. The fragrance of the eucalyptus forest is uplifting. The sight of stork nests in church steeples is awe-inspiring. The food of Galicia is nourishing for your body and soul. The sun on your skin after a passing shower is like receiving a kiss from God.
Everyone discovers something about themselves on the Camino. It could be a big life-changing transformation, like switching careers, or as small as discovering the pleasure of keeping a journal of the daily adventures. They say “the Camino provides.” Sometimes it provides a smiling face when you need one, or a bed when all albergues are full. Most importantly, it provides TIME—time to sort through whatever needs sorting, time to reconnect to yourself, or time to discover who you are and what’s important to you.
The Camino gave me time to ask myself some hard questions and find some answers. Those answers have been guiding my life ever since. I now live by the motto “FAITH OVER FEAR”.
What will you discover about yourself on your Camino? What can the Camino “provide” for you?
