The Camino Gives Much – Sometimes Even a New Life

A story from the series “WONDERful Stories Written by the Camino” by Manolo Link: after years of depression, a 49-year-old pilgrim sets out from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on 28 April 2005 – and at the end of the way, in Finisterre, finds a new life.

A 49-year-old pilgrim sets off on the Camino on 28 April 2005.

Years of depression lie behind him. His second wife had died years earlier, he had lost his job and himself. He was tired of life and wanted to die.

During this time he began to look for help.

The Camino gives much – sometimes even a new life

A prayer and an invisible wall

He knew that in this situation only one could help him, and that was God. His prayer in his despair: “Please, dear God, help me. Either take me to you, or show me a way to live happily again.”

Dear God did not take this desperate man to Him, but sent him on the Camino.

This pilgrim tried, almost desperately, to set out on pilgrimage in 2004. He bought a backpack, hiking boots, socks and whatever else you need for a long pilgrimage. He made three serious attempts to get going. But it just didn’t work. Whenever he wanted to start, it was as if an invisible wall were holding him back.

He had to wait a whole year until the universe opened its gates. From then on everything happened as if by itself. He felt lightness and an incredible energy that seemed to drive him on. Already on the train via Cologne to Paris, tears of emotion and joy ran down his cheeks. He had the certain feeling that he was on the right path. In that moment he thanked God and spoke another prayer: “Dear God, from now on I will stop wishing and expecting. You know better what is good for me; after all, you have a far higher intelligence than I, a little human being.”

An encounter in Finisterre

On 28 April 2005, providence, the universe, opened its gates. “By chance”, on that memorable day an Irish pilgrim from Dublin also set out on her pilgrimage from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.

Although the German pilgrim and the beautiful Irishwoman were at the same place at the same time several times during their pilgrimage, they never consciously met.

Only in Finisterre, the final end of the Camino, did they meet “by chance”, fall in love and have lived happily in Dublin and Finisterre ever since.

“By chance” they had made the same friends along the way – friendships that were very important for them to be able to get to know each other.

Without having looked for it, the German pilgrim found a wonderful woman, found himself again after a long depression, very good friends, his calling as a writer and joy in life once more.

Those who stop searching will find

This pilgrim now thanks dear God and the Camino every day and is convinced that when a person gives up searching, they find. For those who are always searching have no time to find. They even avoid what they are looking for.

When people set out with trust and remember to share love, food, prosperity and peace with others, they will experience WONDERful things. I wish every person a peaceful, happy and fulfilled life. Everyone! For we are all equal, because we are all human beings. All of us!

The Camino is a path of healing, of clarity, of peace, of understanding between peoples and of love.

“If a person has dried just one tear of a fellow human being in a day, they have already done valuable work.” – Mother Teresa

Buen Camino
Manolo Link, pilgrim, peace activist, writer

Another story from the series “WONDERful Stories Written by the Camino” by Manolo Link: Pilgrim blessing and snoring concert: a night in a big dorm.

The route in Camino Ninja

The way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago is the Camino Francés, and the extension to Finisterre is the Camiño a Fisterra – both with stages, map and accommodation in Camino Ninja.