Today I experienced an a-ha moment, a seemingly small event that led to a profound realization.
Our day began at the Atocha train station in Madrid, where the majority of our pilgrims had gathered by 9:30 a.m. A few had mistakenly gone to the wrong part of the station, but within minutes, everyone was accounted for and ready to board the train.
About 15 minutes before we needed to check in, something clicked in my mind. Instinctively, I knew we had to ensure the path was clear and confirm exactly where our group needed to check in. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of people scurrying around the train station and in the crowd it would be easy to make a mistake of where to direct our folks and have pilgrims get lost in the shuffle. This thought came naturally, like breathing—no checklist, no prompting, just automatic. I instructed the group to stay put and took Blaise with me, just in case we encountered any language barriers.
All our pilgrims lined up and in the right place
Within a few minutes, we had identified our route and check-in point. It might seem like a small task, but in that moment, I realized why it happened so effortlessly. Why did I instinctively know this was important and needed to be clarified before moving the group?
The answer is simple: I've been preparing for this kind of pilgrimage for the last 20 years. As many of you know, my wife and I have been blessed with 11 children (and one more on the way). Managing a large group has become second nature to us. When we take action as a family, countless little details need to be managed seamlessly. This has become a habit, an ingrained part of our lives.
Backtracking and problem-solving with over 30 people in your charge can quickly spiral out of control. It's easy to lose confidence in a leader when decisions are poorly timed or mismanaged.
This moment was another confirmation that God has uniquely prepared me for this task of guiding our group. My thought for you today is that God has uniquely prepared you for something as well. I may not know what that is, but I firmly believe that each of us has a role to play as the hands and feet of Christ. Explore what that might be. Embrace that call.
Happy campers near the end of our day in Pamplona. It is the current seminary for the diocese.