Walking into grace: Reflections on pilgrimage, presence, and the Camino

‘The Camino, like life itself, becomes holy ground when we walk it with open eyes and open hearts.’ You don’t need to be a past or would-be pilgrim to recognise the rhythms of a life of faith in Emma Hudson’s memories of walking the famous route across northern Spain (more than once!). She shares her physical and spiritual journey on the Things I Wish I Knew podcast.

There are journeys we plan, and then there are journeys that seem to find us. For Emma Hudson, the director of Pray As You Go, the Camino de Santiago was the latter – a pilgrimage born not out of meticulous preparation, but out of a quiet, unspoken need to be re-rooted in God, in herself and in the mystery of the road.

At the age of 23, following the end of an engagement and standing at the threshold of adult life, Emma set out on the Camino with little more than a backpack and a willingness to walk. What unfolded was not simply a trek across Spain, but a spiritual exercise in surrender, presence and receiving the grace of God. Her story resonates deeply with the Ignatian tradition of finding God in all things, especially in the unexpected.

Paradoxically, her lack of physical and spiritual preparation was the soil in which transformation took root. The Camino, she discovered, is not a test of endurance but an invitation to let go of control, of expectations, of the need to know what comes next. Each step became a prayer, each encounter a moment of grace. The road itself seemed to teach her how to be present, how to listen, and how to trust.

Speaking with Julia Corcoran on the Things I Wish I Knew podcast, Emma shares candidly the discomforts she faced, from physical pain and emotional fatigue to the disorientation of not knowing what each day would bring. Yet it was precisely in these moments of weakness that the Camino became a place of encounter: with herself, with others, and with the divine. It was not the destination that mattered, but the journey itself.

One of the most striking aspects of Emma’s experience was the community that formed along the way. Strangers became companions. Conversations unfolded without pretence. In the shared vulnerability of fatigue and longing, Emma encountered a communion that mirrored the body of Christ: broken, beautiful and bound together by grace. This kind of community is rare. It bypasses the usual social scripts and invites a deeper type of presence. Her experience also reminds us that true companionship is not about shared backgrounds or beliefs, but about shared humanity. In the faces of fellow pilgrims, she saw glimpses of the divine. In their stories, she heard echoes of her own.

This realisation resonates with the Ignatian insight that God is not limited to the sacred or the spectacular, but is present in the ordinary, the overlooked and the everyday. The Camino, like life itself, becomes holy ground when we walk it with open eyes and open hearts. Emma’s reflections draw rich parallels with the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius. Like the Exercises, the Camino invites pilgrims to discern, to reflect and to notice the movements of the Spirit. And like the Exercises, its fruits often emerge long after the final step.

Years later, Emma returned to the Camino, this time with her husband. The journey was different, but no less sacred. She discovered anew that pilgrimage is never the same twice. Each walk is a fresh encounter with God, shaped by who we are and where we find ourselves. The idea that we are always pilgrims is central to the Christian life. We never become finished products. We are constantly formed, re-formed and transformed by God; a beautiful reminder that the spiritual life is not linear.

She also offers practical wisdom for those considering their pilgrimage. The most important preparation, she suggests, is not physical but spiritual. Come with an open heart. Let go of expectations. Be willing to be surprised. The Camino, like God, rarely meets us where we expect, but always meets us where we are. Her advice is simple but profound: reflect on your intentions, be present to the journey and trust that grace will meet you along the way.

Emma’s story is not just for those who have walked the Camino or plan to; it is for anyone who has ever found themselves at a crossroads. It speaks to anyone navigating change, seeking clarity, or longing for a deeper connection with God. Her story is a gentle invitation to slow down, to pay attention, and to trust that grace meets us in the ordinary. Whether we are walking a physical path or simply trying to find our way through life, we are not alone. The journey itself is sacred.

You can listen to the conversation with Emma on the Things I Wish I Knew podcast, where we explore how God meets us in the places we least expect – and how every step, even the painful ones, can be a step towards grace.

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