A Gift of Time: A Father and Son Camino
A Gift of Time: A Father and Son Camino
by Ruben Barron | Yorba Linda, CA
In the iconic Camino movie The Way, a son’s untimely and tragic death on the Camino Francés emboldens his skeptical father to finish walking the pilgrimage his son started. The experience enables the dad to see life with fresh eyes and release worn-out biases. He regains the lost ability to relate to his son. It is a priceless gift between a father and son.
In the last ten years, I’ve walked the Caminos Francés, del Norte, and Via de la Plata Caminos with my son. As an educator, I witnessed the effects of boys raised in homes with physically or mentally absent fathers. Juvenile halls and prisons are full of males lacking good relationships with their fathers.
Through my work in men’s ministry and as a member of Illuman International, I’ve studied and participated in male spirituality and rites of passage. The need for quality time between fathers and sons, regardless of age, has never been greater.
Six weeks on the Camino Francés was the best quality time my adult son and I had ever spent with each other. Adapting to each other’s walking inclinations and collaborating on everything was ideal for personal growth. I knew of my son’s talents (cooking, photography, and relationships), and seeing them applied in service to others was highly rewarding.
The beautiful and invigorating Camino del Norte challenged us greatly, causing us to cast our walking plans. I stayed close to the walking schedule while my son was forced to make significant adjustments. We each did what we had to, gaining good insights while making great memories. Ultimately, the north route was no less a worthy experience for us.
We walked the Via de la Plata as a seasoned team of experienced pilgrims. We knew to expect the unexpected, adapt to changing circumstances, and enjoy the journey. With each Camino, I found myself stepping back from exercising leadership. My son readily and effectively picked up the slack. It seemed fitting as each successive Camino introduced more intriguing experiences.
After announcing that I was done walking Caminos, my son correctly reminded me I had previously suggested the same thing. Maybe next time, he’ll be the one to pick up the phone and ask, “Are you ready for another Camino?” It would be difficult to reject a chance to spend priceless time with my son.
