by Sue Kenney
California, USA
Impossible, you say. Unbelievable, you mutter.
Nineteen men of various ages, from various places, speaking various languages.
They walk. Simply walk. Step by step. In heat. In cold. On ice. On snow. Barefoot, sandals, slippers, boots.
One hundred and eight days they walk. A journey of 2,300 miles. No hotels. No restaurants. No guarantees.
They do not preach. They do not carry signs. They do not rush.
And yet. And yet. There is change in the air. Transformation in each step. As the silence grows. As the crowds grow larger. We witness something so remarkable that we can’t help but ask ourselves “How does this happen?”
A nation attached to cell phones. A nation accustomed to noise. A people divided. A people always wanting more. We have forgotten compassion. We have forgotten gratitude. We trample on the immigrants, the indigenous, the poor.
And we are not happy. We are troubled. And tired. And restless. We fear the future. We deny the past. We struggle to stay present.
And we lose hope. We lose our vision. Our minds are busy but narrow. Our technology is advanced but inhuman.
So … how can this happen? A noisy people becomes silent. A restless people becomes calm. A selfish people becomes generous. A nation in a rush slows down, stops, listens, cries. In the shadow of its monuments, its halls of power, a people bows and prays.
Is this the revolution that many have worked for: a return to democracy, civility and opportunity? And if it is, it is not the work of the protestors, the legislators or the religious authorities. It comes from men whose names we cannot pronounce, whose faith tradition we don’t know, whose attire is not fashionable. But in some mysterious and marvelous ways, they have touched a chord, pierced our hearts, cleared our vision.
Perhaps this is the work of all holy people, gathered across the ages and around the globe. They have sensed that we are finally ready. Ready to listen. Ready to stop. Ready to change. Ready to begin the journey. Ready to learn from men so different than what we expected.
So … when we join together in silent meditation tomorrow, will we then step into the journey we have witnessed? Will today and every other day be a peaceful day! The answer is in our hearts. Each of ours. All of ours.
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Sue is a faithful participant in the weekly Zoom Word of the Week prayers groups.
