Since this perspective falls on National Day, I’d like to begin with a familiar National Day song:

“This is home, truly

Where I know I must be

Where my dreams wait for me

Where the river always flows

This is home, surely

As my senses tell me

This is where I won’t be alone

For this is where I know it’s home.”

Those lyrics from Kit Chan’s “Home” have resonated with generations of Singaporeans. They speak of belonging, hope, and the deep comfort of having a place we can truly call home.

Every time I hear them, I am reminded that beneath our love for our earthly home lies an even deeper longing that God has placed within every one that knows Him – the longing for our eternal home.

That thought stayed with me after my wife and I, together with eight friends, completed a 128km walk over nine days along the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

The Camino, or “The Way,” is an ancient pilgrimage route that has been travelled by Christians for over a thousand years. While many people walk it for cultural, personal or recreational reasons today, it began as a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago in Spain (refer to the picture), traditionally believed to be the resting place of the apostle James.

For me, it became much more than a long-distance walk. It became a picture of the Christian life.

Each morning, we packed our backpacks, laced up our shoes and followed the familiar yellow arrows and scallop shell signs that guided us towards Santiago. Some days the roads were flat and pleasant. Other days were hot, steep and physically draining. We walked through forests filled with birdsong, alongside streams, through sleepy villages, across ancient bridges and into bustling towns.

The Camino has a way of slowing you down.

When life is reduced to walking, eating, resting and repeating the routine the next day, you begin to notice things you would normally miss. We saw wildflowers lining the paths. We paused to watch a rainbow appear in the spray of a fountain as the morning sunlight caught the water. We heard the gentle rhythm of streams flowing beside us. Those moments reminded me how often I rush through life, so focused on reaching the next destination that I fail to notice the beauty God has already placed around me.

The Camino also reminded me that life is not meant to be walked alone.

Some of the deepest conversations happened while walking side by side others. There is something about walking together that opens hearts. We shared stories, laughter, fears, struggles and dreams. There were moments of vulnerability as we spoke honestly about family, disappointments, health, faith and life.

I found myself deeply thankful for this group of fellow pilgrims. They were not simply companions for nine days in Spain. They became a reminder that God often journeys with us through the people He places beside us.

Ecclesiastes says, “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

How true that proved to be.

There were days when encouragement came through a simple smile, a waiting friend on the trail, a shared snack or an unhurried conversation. Sometimes God ministers to us through sermons. Sometimes He ministers through someone who simply slows down enough to listen to us and provide the sounding board for us to hear ourselves.

Perhaps the most memorable moment came on our final day.

After nine days of walking, we finally entered Santiago.

As we drew nearer to the cathedral, there was an unmistakable sense of anticipation. Then we arrived!

What struck me was not the magnificent cathedral itself, but the people!

Pilgrims from every corner of the world filled the square. Some embraced family members who were waiting for them. Others collapsed onto the ground in relief. There were hugs, high-fives, tears of joy, laughter, applause and countless photographs.

Complete strangers congratulated one another simply because they understood what it had taken to get there. For a few moments, nationality, language and background seemed to disappear. Everyone shared the same joy.

Standing there, I could not help but think of another homecoming.

The Bible often describes the Christian life as a journey or a race. We are pilgrims travelling through this world, knowing that this present life is not our final destination. We press on through seasons of joy and sorrow, of mountaintops and valleys, of victories and disappointments.

One day, however, every believer will reach home.

The apostle Paul writes, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

The book of Revelation gives us a beautiful picture of our final destination, where God Himself will dwell with His people.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” Revelation 21:4

Can you imagine that moment?

Like the pilgrims gathering at Santiago, believers from every nation, tribe and language will gather before the throne of God. The saints who have gone before us will be there. Brothers and sisters in Christ from every generation will worship together. Every struggle, every sacrifice, every tear and every faithful step will finally find its fulfilment in the presence of Christ.

Most wonderfully of all, Jesus Himself will welcome us home.

I often imagine that moment. Not because we have completed a 128-kilometre walk.

But because He completed the journey to the cross for us.

Our acceptance into God’s eternal home is not earned by how well we walked, but secured by what Christ has already accomplished through His death and resurrection. The One who said, “I am the Way,” has gone before us and now leads us safely home.

As I reflected on our Camino, I realised that Santiago was never really the end of the journey. We all returned to our ordinary lives.

Laundry still needed washing. Emails still needed answering. Ministry continued.

The Camino ended. Our pilgrimage did not.

Every day we continue walking by faith. Every decision becomes another step. Every act of obedience, every kindness shown, every burden carried, every prayer whispered and every trial endured is another part of our journey towards the home God has prepared for His people.

Perhaps that is why the lyrics of Kit Chan’s song took on a deeper meaning for me.

“This is home, truly… This is where I won’t be alone… For this is where I know it’s home.”

As beautiful as Singapore is, and as much as we love calling it our home, the Bible reminds us that there is an even greater home awaiting every believer in Christ.

One day, we will hear the words from Jesus, “Welcome home.”

There will be no more tears. No more pain. No more goodbyes. Only joy. Only worship. Only the presence of our Saviour.

Until that day, may we continue to walk faithfully, encourage one another along the way, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and remember that every step of faith is bringing us closer to our true home.

And when we finally arrive, we will discover that the deepest longing of every human heart has been fulfilled.

Heaven will be home. Truly.

Afternote:

One of the things that made this Camino especially meaningful was the diversity of our group. We came from different backgrounds and held different beliefs. Yet, one of the members of our group, who is Roman Catholic, asked if I could share a short reflection with everyone at the end of each day’s walk.

I was both surprised and deeply encouraged by the invitation. Each evening, after the day’s journey, I shared some personal reflections in our group chat, drawn from what we had experienced along the Camino. The birds singing in the forest, the conversations along the trail, the yellow arrows pointing the way, the passport stamps we eagerly collected, the weariness from long climbs, and the joy of walking together all became reminders of deeper truths about life.

Throughout the week, I found myself gently pointing the group to a God who walks with us, sustains us, and never leaves us, even when the road is difficult.

On the final day, as we reached Santiago, I shared one last reflection. While we had completed our 128km journey, I reminded the group of another journey that someone took which was far more significant.

Jesus Himself chose to walk the road of suffering to the cross, carrying our sins so that we might be forgiven and brought back into a relationship with God.

It was a privilege to share that hope with my fellow ‘pilgrims’ at the end of our Camino together.

It reminded me that God often opens doors in the most unexpected places.

Sometimes He simply asks us to be faithful in sharing what He has been teaching us, trusting that He will use our ordinary conversations for His extraordinary purposes.