𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐮é𝐬: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟, 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

“𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐.” 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 𝟔:𝟐𝟏

Last Friday, I completed the Camino Portugués, walking 227 miles from Porto through Santiago and then on to Finisterre — often called “the end of the world.”

As I reflect on the journey, three graces stand out:

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐞: 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟

My first Camino in 2021 was walked in memory of my brother Dennis, who left us far too soon at age 19. This second Camino was to honor my Mom and Dad.

Many memories surfaced unexpectedly along the way. I wrote them down, placing them in my personal “Grief Box,” because Dennis, Mom, and Dad will always remain part of who I am.

When I arrived at the Cathedral in Santiago, I lit candles for extended family and for many parishioners, friends, and clients who have passed and are now with the Lord. Holding those names at the altar is a moment I will always cherish.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐨: 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞

This Camino gave me time to reflect further on my recent completion of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, especially that passage in Matthew’s gospel about digging in the field to find your treasure.

My greatest treasure was placed in me by God long before I recognized it, going back to my inner child, that sensitive five-year-old boy who cried easily, felt deeply, but could sit with others in their pain. For years I viewed that sensitivity as a weakness but two Caminos have now taught me otherwise.

My inner child is the treasure, and my field is wherever people are hurting — whether the loss is of a loved one, a job, relationship, move, an empty nest, or a retirement no one prepared for. I know how to be present in those fields because I have walked through them myself.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞: 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭

The third grace came through recognizing beauty all around me — the ocean, the mountains, the animals, the people. Whenever beauty stopped me, I found myself fully present, freed from regrets about the past and worries about the future. Beauty led to gratitude anchoring me in the present moment, which is where God always meets us.

So, as I head back home, I realize grief does not end but it becomes part of our story and makes us more human and relatable to others.

Our truest treasure is that inner child God placed within us long before we recognized it.

And when we pause long enough to notice the beauty all around us, we discover that God has been walking beside us all along.

Dennis taught me that love can survive loss. Mom and Dad taught me that faith endures. The Camino has revealed my treasure — and my calling.

Buen Camino my friends, Dr. K