Walk the Walk Journey Day 5 of Walking - For most

 Day 5 

I returned from being away two days as I had to return to Westminster to handle some items that I obligated myself.  Last evening, I preached at Emory Grove Camp Meeting, it a sort of long story but mostly I was excited about my daughter Brittany Rachin and our Organist Peggy who performed "The Green Cathedral."  Here is a Facebook link to the song if your interested in checking it out! 

https://www.facebook.com/malcolm.stranathan/videos/10222732473970719/   For me this was the highlight of last evening.  

This morning was greeted by a new day of walking.  Walking isn't so exciting.  Except it was nice walking with Jacki most of the morning (Thanks Linda N. for the photo!)  

Mostly the time is spent carrying signs, and waving them as we walk.  We get a lot more honks of affirmation than we do the finger waving or hollering things out their windows most of which were unrecognizable which was probably good (except for the guy from Lambert Plumbing who hollered for us to "Get a job!" ... I didn't have the opportunity to  share that every person on the walk being a Faith Leader or Clergy Person or support staff are all well employed.)  I will say that without a doubt, there are more folks positive about our presence despite the fact that we take up space on the road and because we can't go the speed limit, it causes an inconvenience to them ... Jacki told me that yesterday the group caused and eight mile back up (cringe!).  They moved the group to the side of the road to let traffic pass.  (it took 25 minutes before the group could get moving again)

I've been taking photos of  the sign to Washington DC.  We are getting closer

One event did bother me ... a lot.  We have a great guy named Bing who is coordinating a lot remotely from California.  Bing has been a god send, doing good work, making sure we can stop or get through a location, arrange places for us to park and eat.  Well, Bing arranged for us to stop at a baptist church and we were going to use their parking lot to eat our lunch.  When asked they responded wholeheartedly but this morning, we received a call with an emphatic, "NO." to this group using their parking lot.  Not the bathroom, not the building, just their asphalt.  One of our coordinators Doug is quoted here of what happens When the church says no!  I'll just say, Hebrews.13.2. In the end, we ended up using a pull off on the highway, turned out great, in the shade and cool and while a little loud with traffic passing by, it was a great stopping place. 

 

I will say that it was blazing hot as we went through the day.  Despite putting on sunscreen, my back of my calves got a pretty bad burn, sun poison-ish - doesn't hurt, just look really back.  I have reluctantly zipped the bottom half of my shorts (which come with trouser leg extensions) back on and tomorrow will be walking with pants to protect from the sun. The dark brown is a shadow and not the color of my skin or dirt.  I'll be taking a benedril (which Jacki looked up and said would be good.)  I never get burned like this, it is a first but walking on the hot pavement reflecting the sun must have resulted in the perfect condition.  Several folks have resulted in burns and mostly blisters, they continue on.    

When we got back to the hotel, took a shower and crashed.  This evening, was the first of four nights of Revivals sponsored by the Red Letter Christians.  It was a powerful night of preaching.  We were the audience, live on the road, chilling on chairs as Shane Claiborne spoke and then intro each of the preachers, singers and folks praying.  

Tonight's conversation focused on racism. This on the first day after Jacob Blake, another black man, who was attempting to break up a fight ended up getting shot seven times ... in front of his three children ... by law officials.  I am not going to provide commentary on this, just sigh ... there always seems to be too many ready examples of this kind of violence being visited upon people of color. 

For the record, I am not against police ... in fact, let me say that this week, Virginia State Police have been wonderful in supporting our walk.  They have a bunch of police cars precede and follow.  A bunch of motorcycle cops who help block traffic for us.  They are great.  Occasionally, their loud speaker encourages us to step to the side or avoid leading into traffic.  While the coordinators of the trip coordinated a route, it was the Virginia State Police who made suggestions to the route to make it easier and safer for us.  They have our best interest at heart and are supporting this group.  I am thankful for that. 

More about tonight.  If you haven't already seen the program, 

https://www.redletterchristians.org/red-letter-revival/online-revival-rnc/

These Revival sessions will be held each night this week Monday through Thursday and last for a single hour, two on Thursday.  All at 7pm.