Day 8, Friday April 8, 2005 As of yesterday, the plan was to get up early, pack up, and head back to Hempstead to begin walking 10 miles. I woke up at 4 AM after resting well, but my feet still did not feel like they could do any serious walking. I went back to sleep. I woke up again at about 6 AM and guilt for not having gotten up early motivated me to get up and get some work done, even if I didn’t feel like walking. I sat down, propped up my feet and began working on Day 7 (yesterday’s) Journal. We headed for Academy. I was looking for walking shoes but really did not find anything that felt good. I asked a clerk for help. I explained what I was doing and about the condition of my feet. It then occurred to me that I would have to buy shoes too big for me to fit my current condition, but would they still work for me when the swelling subsided? The clerk handed me some Aisics. I put them on. “They’re too small but they feel pretty good.” I tried a couple of more pair and finally picked one. I laced them up and walked around. “Are you wearing liners when you walk?” He asked. “Yes.” “Well, you should try them on with liners. Here are some liners, and you might want to try these socks, as well.” I put on the liners and the socks. He was right about the shoes, the liners and the socks. “I’ll take them all, and I’ll wear them now. They feel like slippers.” I paid the bill, left, got in the car a much happier and encouraged walking man, and we headed to get some lunch and then off to Hempstead. I contacted Gene Dewveall, the preacher at the Hempstead Church of Christ. No answer so I left a message to let him know I would be resuming the walk at Monica’s about 1:00 PM. At Monica’s, I strapped on my small day pack with minimal gear and water and attached the sign. I spotted Monica and her helper on the west end of the building and went over to meet them. They admired Walker and wished me well on my way. Sherri was going to hang out there for a while and wait for me to complete the ten miles, then carry me on into Brenham before returning to College Station and then to Dallas. I asked Monica to please not allow her to spend too much money in her store, then off I went. A little ways down the road, the phone rang. It was Gene. He said he had been in a Bible study and had just gotten the message. He had a pretty busy afternoon and that he did not think he would be able to meet me. I told him that was OK, I just wanted to let him know that I was going to try to do 10 miles this afternoon so I would not fall too far behind. Since I was now moving farther and farther away from him, I wanted to thank him for his willingness to help and for all his prayers. There was a pause…”I’ll take care of a couple of things here and meet up with you on the road in a little while. I want to walk with you a ways and pray for you.” “Great!” I said, “I’ll look forward to seeing you.” Just west of Monica’s there is a wide river bottom, probably a mile or more, with several bridges. As I entered this area, I spotted a pickup on the side of the road set up as a produce stand. I could definitely see watermelons and other produce on the back of the truck. As I got closer, I could see a man sitting in the driver’s seat with the window down. As I got closer, he eyed Walker and decided it might be safe to roll up the window. “He won’t bother you,” I said, “except he might lick you to death.” He smiled and rolled the window back down. “How’s business today?” I asked. “Kind of slow.” “I’m sorry, I hope it picks up for you.” I stopped and talked to Izzard Tompkins for a minute or too. “Those melons look really good. It sure is early for watermelons. They come from Mexico?” “I believe so. I get ‘em from a friend.” “Wish I could carry one. Sure would be good later on when it’s hot.” “You need water? Izzard asked as he offered a thermos jug. “No, I’ve got plenty, but thank you for offering.” Now, before I started this walk, I might have taken offense at such an offer because I might have perceived that the person offering figured I was unprepared. PRIDE again. I am beginning to see that lot’s of people, maybe most, people, when they make such an offer, do so because they genuinely care. I did not tarry long, and I parted with “God bless you, and have a great day.” I said a silent prayer for Izzard as I turned and walked away. Looking back, I do so regret my ignorance in dealing with people. Taking offense - be it ever so minimal - at the generosity of others - how could I have been so blind for so long? How many have been wounded or discouraged from offering such kindness as a result of my self-centeredness and insensitivity? After a while, I see a small car stopped on the shoulder of the road ahead. There is an older gentleman with gray hair walking towards me. He is smiling. It must be Gene. This is great! This will be the first time someone, other than my homeless friend in Houston, has walked with me on the journey. We share introductions and a cordial greeting and begin walking together. He has no trouble with the pace. I tell him about my story, about Dry Bones, and about walking to Denver. He also shares some of his story with me, about the Hempstead church and the work there. He walks with me for a mile or more and then stops. “I have to get back,” he says, “but I wanted to share a Scripture with you and pray for you.” He reads from Psalm 37. I don’t remember where he started or finished but I do recall verse 23ff, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” KJV. Gene prayed for me and I prayed for him and his church - right there on the side of the road with cars whizzing by at 70 mph. He turned and headed back to his car, I toward Brenham. “Thank you, Lord, for new found friends.” The rest of the walk was fairly uneventful. I was amazed (although I should not have been) that my feet were not bothering me at all. Sherri called and was about to leave Monica’s. I told here to clock her mileage from there to a point ten miles up the road and stop and wait for us. I load up my stuff in the van and we head into Brenham. I’ve talked to Bob Grigg, the preacher there, whom I have never met, and I am dying to ask him one question. He has told me that the church is right on the highway as we come into town. We find it and pull in. I pull out my cell phone to call Bob. We were supposed to meet him here about now. He answers and says he is on his way and will be there in a couple of minutes. Sure enough, a minute later he pulls in. We start transferring stuff to his car and the phone rings. It’s Gary. I’m trying to control Walker, meet Bob, get directions for Sherri back to College Station and talk to Gary. I tell Gary to hang on - and then completely forget about him. We get everything under control and I finally get to ask Bob the question. “What’s your dad’s name?” “Bob,” he says. “and your mother?” “Dee,” he says. That’s it! “Your dad baptized my wife 24 years ago at the Trinity Oaks Church of Christ.” We said goodbye to Sherri and headed off to his home. On the way to his house, we passed it. I don’t know what I had imagined, but I guess I thought it would be sitting out in the middle of some dairy cow pasture in the countryside. But here it was just a stone’s throw (for someone with a very strong arm) away from Bob’s house - the Blue Bell Creamery. Unfortunately they were closed for the day. We made it to Bob’s place and unloaded everything, including Walker. Bob and Patti did not seem like big dog people but they were friendly and accepting of Walker. He was pretty tired and so he was calm. Patti had been working with babies earlier in the day and Walker really liked some aroma on her clothes and while sniffing her, he drooled all over her slacks. What a great way to start the visit. I retired to soak my feet in their tub and get cleaned up. Walker took a snooze in the bathroom while I showered. Patti fixed a great dinner of pot roast and corn and salad with - of course - Blue Bell ice cream for dessert. Walker was a bit antsy and kept walking under the table. I finally got him to settle down. Bob and Patti either truly did not mind, or were being very graciously patient with us. Before I knew it, it was time for bed. Walker ate a good meal. And we turned in. I was very enthusiastic about this new friendship. Sometime that afternoon or evening, we discussed the fact that staying over Saturday night seemed to make a lot of sense since I was running behind. By the way, I was amazed (why should I be?) at how well my feet were feeling after 10 miles. God was clearly answering the many prayers offered on my behalf. The ulcer on my right heel - remember, the doctor said it would take two weeks to heal - was now skinned over - two days later. Sometime during the evening, Bob and Patti mentioned that they wished I would still be here on Sunday so I could go to church with them in the morning and come to their small group meeting in their home Sunday night. After I went to bed, I decided to ask if they might be willing to put up with me one more day, because I really wanted to worship with them and experience their small group. Dare I ask them to allow me to stay three nights instead of one? |