a surrender - 29

(Continuing "a surrender," chapter four, "the anawim")

The weeks that followed were physically challenging. As I moved further west, the towns were more spread out, with long stretches where there was nothing but grass and wind. I thought I must make a curious sight out there, a lone pilgrim with nothing around for miles. I never tried to get a ride. But twice during that time I was offered a ride by Spanish-speaking immigrants. They both said they knew what it was like to walk in the heat and the dust for days and days.

Then one Monday morning I found myself waiting outside a church with no food and just fourteen cents in my pocket. It was raining. And ahead of me lay many, many miles with no shelter and no towns. I was reluctant to take another step. I felt so helpless. Where was God?

Then a car arrived at the church. And another soon after. I was surprised, because it was very early, six in the morning. Another car pulled up and swung over near me, to ask why I was there. I said I was on my way to Denver, just waiting for the rain to stop, and briefly described my walk. That seemed to satisfy them, and they joined the others. It seemed like it was a gathering for some kind of youth outing. Then a few minutes later, two men walked over to me.

“Going to Denver, huh? Well, we’re going to Denver.” Then they offered to take me with them.

I couldn’t believe it. They were taking the young people from the church to a big amusement park, just a half mile from where I was headed. I had planned to visit the novitiate where I had started with the Dominicans. My novice master had invited me. And suddenly I was there, carried over two hundred miles before lunch time. So it didn’t matter that I had no food and only fourteen cents.

Continued...