Walking to Listen

I want to introduce you to Andrew, a guy wearing a funky hat and walking down a featureless stretch of highway in Arizona. He was pushing a stroller with a sign that caught my attention: "walking to listen." As I drove by I knew that I needed to stop and talk with this guy. Who pushes a baby stroller down a highway for the purpose of listening these days?!

His journey started on one end of the United States and his goal is to listen to people's stories all across the nation. He wants to get to know the people that fill the mountains, the valleys, and the flatlands to see what drives people and see their humanity. His aim is to avoid pretentious topics such as religion and politics, instead focusing on people's life stories: "What was it like to grow up here?" "what has changed in your lifetime?" "Are you happy here?"

What has surprised him most has been the kindness of people. Even in places where he least expected it people would invite him in and offer him a bed and food. He told me of the internal challenge when receiving hospitality from people who were deeply racist. It's a difficult juxtaposition of ideals when someone is generous with action to some, but frugal with love towards others.

After chatting on the highway for some time, Andrew encouraged me to talk with the Navajo people about their beliefs and ways of life. "Ask the people you meet about walking in beauty." Over the next few days I did talk with good Navajo folk about the meaning of this phrase. I learned much about the Navajo way of life and came to realize that walking in beauty has much to do with listening, which requires stopping and letting go of our own agenda and needs to connect with those around us.

I have much to learn from the 23 year old college graduate walking the highways of the US with an open mind and a heart willing to be changed.

Visit Andrew on his site: http://walkingtolisten.com/

May we all walk in beauty.
Sporadic Nomadic