My Camino

4 years ago, Rainer told me of a place in Spain called Santiago De Compostela. I was telling him about my pilgrimage to Rome in 2000 and he recommended Santiago as another place to make a pilgrimage to. As I listened to him describe Santiago, all I could think about was "there's no where in this world that could beat the sight of St Peter's" and then he said something that struck home.

"And they have this incense thing, that's hung to the ceiling and it swings across the whole church"

That was it. I was hooked. As much as a pilgrimage should be inspired by something more spiritual, I was just amazed with the idea of viewing such a phenomenom.

Somehow, in the 4 years that followed, I never really looked into the possiblity of going to Santiago De Compostela. Until now.

In the past few months, friends and fellow uni grads are making their summer travel plans. The graduating batch especially all want to sign off in style and so trips to Ibiza or a round europe trip have been planned. But nothing seemed to entice me. And then one random day studying in the library, I thought about Santiago De Compostela. This is exactly what I'm looking for.

I'm not looking for a reconnection with God as a lot of people like to dramatise it to be. To me, a relationship with God is something nurtured over a period of time, like any other relationship. I don't expect to make this pilgrimage and suddenly see a bright glow of light, be enlightened and raised up to heaven. But I do expect to understand a bit more of myself, of God's plan for me, of God's work throughout the world.


So this is it. My summer plan. Santiago De Compostela.