Before the first step

Dear friends and family,

Thank you for taking an interest in my little adventure on el Camino de Santiago. I'll be happy for your thoughts and prayers along the way. In spite of having hiked part of el Camino before, I have very little idea what lies before me... and that, perhaps, is what excites me most. My intention in hiking this storied pilgrimage is to daily place myself in God's hands, come what may. After two years of planning my days literally down to the minute, I relish the prospect of living for a time with nothing but the few items I carry on my back and for nothing but the journey and those with whom I share it. If you'd like more information about the Camino itself and what lies ahead of me, you might check out .

I suppose the most obvious question as I set out is, "Why?" Why put myself through the physical strain of hiking from one end of Spain to the other? Why spend the first month of my summer vacation thousands of miles away from everyone (almost) who knows and loves me best? Why spend the money to get there when I should be paying off student loans? Well, to be honest part of the reason I'm making this pilgrimage is to seek out answers to questions just such as these. Working as a Catholic educator these past two years, I've been assaulted by a barrage of questions about the faith I profess and, particularly, how we go about the work of forming others in that tradition. It is my hope that, in spending some time in the company of those who are seeking God in a very active way, I will gain some insights into how to better bring God to others.

On a more personal level, this particular moment in time marks a major crossroads in my life as I conclude my first significant teaching experience and prepare to entrench myself more firmly in the work of Catholic education. My time teaching in Memphis has elucidated for me some of the troubling issues that confront the Church today. Carrying these experiences and lessons with me, I look to this journey along el Camino as a time to contemplate all that I've witnessed and to allow God to direct me where my next step should be. Also, I've decided to dedicate the trials and joys of this journey to my three siblings, whom I seem to appreciate more and more as time wears on.

I am blessed to be joined along the way by a fellow educator and good friend, Barbie Sloan. Two weeks in we will be joined by a third companion, our friend Greg. I could not hope for better company, and doubtless much of what I'll have to say herein will be inspired by our conversations.

Thanks again for tuning in. Please be sure to keep us in your prayers, and I promise to return the favor.