I had the opportunity to meet my treasured friend, “Tom” and he share his insight on the Camino. I have divided the conversation into two parts because if I had his whole conversation into one blog, it would not do the Tom’s advice justice. So this is part one and part two will drop on Friday.Tom’s View on the CaminoWhen I first came to the Camino, I thought of it as a walk, a long stretch of road where I could process my thoughts in solitude. But as I moved through villages and shared meals with strangers, I realized the Camino is not just a path, it is a community.There are layers to that community.The first is made up of the pilgrims themselves, people from every corner of the world, all walking for reasons that are deeply personal. Some are grieving, some are searching, some are celebrating life. When you listen to their stories, it feels like they are handing you a gift. And when you take the time to truly hear them, to hold space for their experiences, you are giving one back.Then there are the people of Spain, the ones who live along this ancient route. They welcome pilgrims into their towns, serve food, share their culture, and laugh together in the plazas late into the evening. Watching them reminded me of something I had forgotten, that life is meant to be shared.There’s also the spiritual community, the one that exists quietly in the basilicas, cathedrals, and small chapels along the way. Stepping into these spaces lifts something in your spirit. It doesn’t matter what faith you practice or whether you even name it. There is a shared sense of reverence that connects everyone who enters.The Camino shows its kindness in small ways too. A stranger offering a bandage for your blisters. Someone slowing their pace to walk alongside you. Music drifting from a café, giving you energy to keep moving. These moments remind you that you are never really walking alone.The Camino is a road, yes. But it’s more than that. It is a moving community. Every step brings you closer to people and to yourself. In walking together, we rediscover what it means to belong.
