Helps and Hindrances
On the Camino, what you pack becomes a bit of a game. Walking 500 miles while carrying your supplies in a backpack means constantly balancing between keeping your pack as light as possible and still bringing what you need—or think you’ll need.
In preparing for my Camino, I read a lot of articles and watched videos on what to pack and what to leave behind. The general rule is to keep your backpack weight to no more than 10% of your body weight.
Within those parameters, people have all kinds of opinions on what’s essential and what’s unnecessary. I ended up with a pack weighing about 17 ½ pounds (not counting water) and felt pretty good about it.
But after a few days on the trail, as fatigue began to settle in, I started second-guessing what I really needed and what I could discard.
When my friend Steve was preparing to leave after day eight, he asked if there was anything I wanted to send back to the States with him. I decided to get rid of my sleeping bag, which weighed 1 pound 10 ounces. I also had a pair of hiking sandals I thought I’d use on rainy days—but they were 15 ounces, so I let them go too. I hadn’t used my headlamp or inflatable pillow yet, so I got rid of those as well.
By letting go of those four items, I dropped over 3 pounds from my backpack. It might as well have been 50. That small reduction made a huge difference. My pack was noticeably lighter, and it helped my stamina, my back, my hips—everything.
On the other hand, there were items I brought that I wasn’t sure I’d need, but they ended up being incredibly helpful. For instance, I packed a small first aid kit that included a mini pair of scissors. I’ve used those scissors over a dozen times in my first 15 days. They’ve proven to be a quiet lifesaver.
Similarly, I was unsure about using walking sticks. I had trained with them a few times back in Arizona and found them useful on rugged hills, but otherwise not really necessary. Still, I decided to buy a pair here in Europe and give them a try. Now, I can’t imagine walking without them. They not only provide stability but also help me get into a rhythm. Time passes more quickly, and my pace is more natural and efficient. Walking sticks distribute up to 25% of your body weight to your arms, easing pressure on your knees, hips, and joints. They’ve become trusted companions on the journey.
In life, we all carry things we assume will help us—or that we’ve been told we shouldcarry. But sometimes, they end up weighing us down. These things may work well for others but drain our time, energy, and focus without truly adding value.
Conversely, there are things in our lives that others may view as unnecessary, yet they add great value to our days. They help us grow, keep us centered, and bring a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
To identify what’s truly helping us—and what may be hindering our growth—we must do two things:
1. Practice trial and error.
Try some things. Give them a shot. See what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to fail or to try something new.
2. Practice honest reflection.
We need to search our hearts and evaluate our lives with honesty. Not just based on what others say we should do, or even what we assume we ought to do—but by asking: What’s actually adding value? And what’s become a burden?
The prophet Haggai said, “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5). And Proverbs 4:26 tells us, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet, and be steadfast in all your ways.”
We’re all carrying something that was meant to help—but deep down, we know it’s become a burden. And there may be things that are helping us, yet they’re getting crowded out by lesser things.
So maybe it’s time for a few changes. Maybe it’s time to let go of something that no longer serves you—or to pick up something new that might. Maybe it’s time to pray differently, walk more lightly, and trust that God’s guidance—like the Camino arrows—is right where it needs to be.
