Onward I fluidly flowed to the outskirts of Madison, where I came across Our Lady of the Blue Ridge Catholic Church. I was very thirsty at the time (and the Catholics had admittedly been quite openly kind to me during my walk across Europe in week’s previous) so I headed down to the church’s office door and gave it a gentle knock. Quite the glum fellow answered that day, quite obviously not very happy to see me at all. I mentioned what I was doing and why, and even added (Truth-fully, truly) that I was using my pilgrimage to “spread the message of Christ,” and yet none of that information seemed to impress him or any way improve his spirits. He did, ironically, offer me a Life Water before sending me back out onto The Way – ironically on the one hand because it is normally the Follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ who gives “the water of life” to everyone he or she encounters (especially to the followers of Paul, the members of the modern-day Christian faith), and ironically on the other because the water itself tasted like death (i.e. more like plastic than water). And so it was that I poured the liquid offering onto the next bush that looked thirsty and poured out the uncomfortable energy of its giver there with it as well …

“Let’s appreciate and welcome the arrival of the New Prophet; the one who can be both spiritual and rational – both kind and demanding of justice – both gentle and resolute – both humble and bold. Let us embrace the prophet who equally respects & champions the rights of women and children and animals as much as those of men, and refuse to make anyone a slave of his nation’s flag or practices. Let’s praise the New Prophet – the one who can arrange a new kind of miracle, one that can be reasonable – a bit awkward, yes, and yet also fully in harmony with the findings of science & logic. Let’s follow the way of the New Prophet – the one who picks up trash from every sidewalk and builds green parks in which young & old alike can play and know peace. Let’s raise up a new prophet – one who demands peace and condemns all war; one who rebukes every form of needless cruelty and demands uniform respect and universal compassion instead … In truth, kindness has no religion. Religions are like narrow tracks to nowhere, while kindness is an open path to the sky.” ~ inspired by M. F. Moonzajer & Amit Ray

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