Edwards makes a 750K journey of faith

    Exactly two years ago in June, Lamar Edwards was on a life-changing journey. He trekked almost 500 miles across Spain in 33 days on El Camino de Santiago.
    At one point of the walk between two cities along the trail, he became tired and paused, seeing a large statue of Blessed John Paul II before him. A voice in his heart prodded him to continue, “You have come this far. You can do this” and he kept walking.
    Edwards, 23, a recent theology graduate at Our Lady of Holy Cross College, said his devotion to John Paul II flourishes in his life today.
    “John Paul always re-emerges at very important times of my life to remind me of his spiritual paternity to me,” he said.
    El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, also known as The Way of Saint James, was one of the most important pilgrimages during medieval times. It has many routes, but the ultimate goal is to reach the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where Catholic tradition holds that the apostle St. James’ remains are buried. Edwards said he took the path that St. Francis of Assisi is believed to have walked in 1214.
    Now, 1,000 years later, countless pilgrims continue to travel the same route for many different reasons.
    Edwards embarked upon the journey because he felt a deep calling from God in his heart. His trip was centered on learning to let go of fear and trust in God, themes which are also prominent in the teachings of Pope John Paul II, who, in 1982, was the first pontiff to visit the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
   “John Paul’s signature quote would be ‘Do not be afraid,’” Edwards said. “And, to some degree, the Camino is shrouded in fear.”
His faith carries him
    Edwards’ faith carried him along the trip. He traveled to Spain alone, spoke almost no Spanish and did not map out any places to stay ahead of time. He also encountered many physical obstacles along his journey, yet remained determined to reach his goal.
    “When John Paul says not to fear, he wants us to realize that God is in charge,” Edwards said. “If I was running low on money, if I didn’t have a place to stay – no matter what I was in need of – the Lord provided it all.”
    When he more clearly saw God’s providence surrounding his journey, freedom began to replace the fear in his heart.
    “As much as there were times when fear crept its way in and tried to pin me down, there was never a time when fear conquered me,” he said.
    Edwards walked anywhere from 12 to 25 kilometers (7 1/2 to 15 miles) per day on The Camino. By the end of his journey, he had traveled about 750 kilometers total (466 miles). He walked every single step of it, taking no easy way out.
The journey continues
    Now, two years later, Edwards’ experience of the Camino continues to manifest itself in his day-to-day life.
    “Some of those experiences are imprinted in my memory forever,” he said. “The whole experience itself is unforgettable.”
    This does not mean, however, that Edwards’ life is free from fear. He describes himself as “very human” and does not see the Camino as “a permanent solution to any problems” in his spiritual life.
Accepting the gift
    Mostly, Edwards considers the Camino to be a “radical, providential gift” – an invitation to deeper intimacy with the Lord that has continued after the walk.
    “You can get that intimacy here,” he said. “You can experience it in adoration or at Mass – it’s not impossible. God always invites us to that intimacy. We just need to accept it.”
    Edwards accepts the Lord’s invitation by continuing his theological studies in the master’s program at Notre Dame Seminary. He also grows in intimacy with the Lord through service. In addition to expending his time and energy as a volunteer youth minister, music minister, and sacristan, he is currently working with Wendy Vitter on the Blessed John Paul II Exhibit to open in February in New Orleans.
Water for the seeds of faith
    Edwards sees this exhibit as “water for the seeds of faith around the diocese.”
    “One of the biggest things that this exhibit will do is incarnate the love that John Paul had for every person,” he said.
    He hopes that it will inspire an even greater devotion to this beloved pope in people of all ages and backgrounds because “John Paul really was a man for all people.”
    Two years after his grand adventure in Spain, Edwards is fostering his own devotion with classes at the Theology of the Body Institute in Pennsylvania. This summer he is studying “The Philosophy of Blessed John Paul II” with Dr. Peter Kreeft. He firmly believes that Blessed John Paul II will always remain his “spiritual father.”
    “John Paul II is someone that I will always look up to,” Edwards said. “The more I learn about him, the more I want to be like him. I just want to be a good, Christian, Catholic, virtuous man.”
    Rachel Varisco can be reached at [email protected].