I trudge-limped onward into the gathering gloom — my clothes soaked and my shoes muddy and my body exhausted and my legs once more in quite a bit of pain, and finally made it to the outskirts of the small village of Golinhac. I was pretty much at wit’s end at this point, and would have passed out on the first park bench I found — were it not for the still-steady rain. I was also a bit jaded by the repeated rejections with which I had met over the course of hours previous, and as such was uplifted mightily by the very first person I met in Golinhac — a most friendly fellow who wanted to offer me shelter, and yet who had no shelter to give (living as he did in literally a one-room shack nearby). His kindness buoyed my spirits nonetheless and I only walked onward another few meters when I saw the front door of the house next door propped open …

My immense fatigue and my still-flickering Faith in humanity both combined to lead me right up to the same and call out to whomever was inside … It was shortly thereafter that the owner of the home, Jerome, first answered the door and then answered my prayers; first hearing the story of my Walk and then without hesitation inviting me into his own home, where he and his wife proceeded to shower me with a series of kindnesses (all shown in the comment boxes below) the likes of which I had not yet seen — first there was the dry chair in front of a warm fire, then some small-but-dry sandals for my battered feet, then a cold beer in my outstretched hand, then some truly delicious vegan food for my empty belly, then a soft bed for my aching body, and finally some clean clothes for my next days’ walking — all ladled liberally with warm-hearted fellowship for my weary Soul … 😀

“I have known a lot of people in my life, and I can tell you this: the ones who understood Love better than the rest are those who choose to look at the dirtiest, the poorest, the weirdest, the scariest, and the basest among us — all those deemed most different and all those judged least worthy — and see only an opportunity to Care.” ~ inspired by Dan Pearce

When they were cold, you gave them warmth …

When they were soaked, you dried their feet …

When they were parched, you quenched their thirst …

When they were hungry, you gave them food …

When they were homeless, you gave them shelter …

And when they were lost in doubt & sadness, you gave them hope … 🙂

Filed under: Peace Pilgrimage #02: Walking HOME (2019) by Scaughdt