Searching for Hope

The Camino de Santiago is a trail that goes across northern Spain, and many people hike it as a pilgrimage. It’s a spiritual journey for many as they hope to find forgiveness by completing the walk. The hostel that we served at is located right on the path of the Camino, and it is three hiking days out from Santiago - the hikers were very close to the end!

We spent our days outside the hostel talking to people as they passed by. Some had started hiking just a few days prior, while others had been hiking for several weeks. The nature of the Camino and our proximity to Santiago served as the perfect opening to share the hope of Jesus.

One conversation that stands out from this trip was with a college student from Pennsylvania, and he was walking the Camino as part of a college class. He had a bottle of red wine in his hands that he had been drinking as he walked.

We got to talking as he stopped at the hostel for a break, and I quickly learned that he was an atheist and he was searching for something that would make him feel whole. We started talking about where you find hope in life, and I shared how I’ve searched the world for things to fill me - friendships, relationships, my job, adventures, running, etc., but those things always leave me empty. The only thing that truly satisfies me is Jesus. He is also a runner, so he understood the disappointment that comes when you get injured or when you don’t meet your goals. He seemed like an analytical guy, so I challenged him to read the Bible and see what he might find there. He left that conversation with a Gospel of John in his hands and said he would read it and see what’s there. Pray for him, that He may encounter the living God and find hope in Him.