Sunday, April 17, 2011
A Walk Across America - Chapters 29-30
Peter was headed toward New Orleans. He is a different man now. He now understands the reason for this walk and I think it's great how God worked in his life. Once Peter arrived in New Orleans he needed a place to stay so he could write for National Gegraphic. He remembered someone he had met at the revival who lived at seminary and he found the man's number and called him. The man arranged for him a place to stay and that is where Peter met his future wife. My favorite part of this chapter is how God worked in their relationship when Barbara prayed for a sign from God so she would know whether to go with Peter or stay. God gave them a clear, unquestionable sign. Peter had known all along that they should be together but he was doubtful that God would give a sign. We should never doubt God. He can do anything. Also, when we are struggling with decisions in our life we should turn to God for answers. I think it is great that Peter walked across America. I think God had a plan for him from the very beginning. I love the fact that he wrote so much about Alabama and what a wonderful state we live in because so many people across the country think of us as country bumpkins. I think the lession I learned from this book is that we shouldn't form opinions about people or places before we study them for ourselves.
A Walk Across America - Chapters 27-28
Peter made it to Mobile and stopped at a diner. Someone paid for his food but he never found out who it was. He loved the city of Mobile. He loved that they built buildings around nature instead of cutting down the trees to build. He got a job as a "tree surgeon". He loved taking care of the old trees. He made friends at his job. He met a guy who played the guitar for money and was invited to stay with him while he was in Mobile. I think it's neat how Peter dreaded walking through Alabama but did it any way only to find out that Alabama was one of his favorite states.
Peter was planning on going to a party but kept noticing billboards for a revival. He decided to go to the revival to see what it was all about. He sat right in front of the stage because he wanted to get good pictures. He never expected what was going to happen. He met God that night. He asked Jesus to be Lord of his life. He finally found what he had been searching for. I love the way he explained this experience because if someone reads this book that doesn't know Christ, he shares it in a way that they could understand and hopefully come to know Him. You can tell through his words that his experience was real.
Peter was planning on going to a party but kept noticing billboards for a revival. He decided to go to the revival to see what it was all about. He sat right in front of the stage because he wanted to get good pictures. He never expected what was going to happen. He met God that night. He asked Jesus to be Lord of his life. He finally found what he had been searching for. I love the way he explained this experience because if someone reads this book that doesn't know Christ, he shares it in a way that they could understand and hopefully come to know Him. You can tell through his words that his experience was real.
A Walk Across America - Chapters 25-26
Peter learned that walking without Cooper made him long to be around people more. When he got to Montgomery he called some friends of the McGuires who let him stay with them. Peter walked to the Capitol and finally got in to see Governor Wallace. He was impressed that Governor Wallace knew all about him and appreciated what he was doing. Governor Wallace even offered to pay for the rest of his trip but Peter refused. He wanted to work his way across America too. He left Montgomery and went to Selma. He met a black man that owned a cotton gin and shared lunch with him. He was totally amazed by Alabama. This makes me proud to be from Alabama.
Peter met M.C. Jenkins at a post office in Orrville, Alabama. Mr. Jenkins invited Peter to stay with him because it was so cold. Peter agreed and Mr, Jenkins spent the evening telling Peter all about his life. Peter loved listening to his stories. They invited him to stay and work on the farm for awhile. Peter stayed with the Jenkins for two weeks and became part of the family. He went into a small ghost town where he thought nothing existed and found a new family.
Peter met M.C. Jenkins at a post office in Orrville, Alabama. Mr. Jenkins invited Peter to stay with him because it was so cold. Peter agreed and Mr, Jenkins spent the evening telling Peter all about his life. Peter loved listening to his stories. They invited him to stay and work on the farm for awhile. Peter stayed with the Jenkins for two weeks and became part of the family. He went into a small ghost town where he thought nothing existed and found a new family.
A Walk Across America - Chapters 23-24
As painful as it was to leave Homer's Mountain and Smokey Hollow, I bet leaving the Farm without Cooper was the hardest thing Peter has ever done. He must really be a strong person to be able to do this. Now he will be walking alone. Peter did not want to walk across Alabama because he had heard horrible things about the state. He was really afraid. Once he was in Alabama a truck with a family in it pulled over and asked him if he wanted to join them for dinner. While at their house he saw Governor Wallace on TV and decided he would walk to Montgomery to visit with him. He looked up someone he had met that lived in Sheffield, Alabama and they invited him to stay with them. The father was a doctor and wouldn't let Peter leave because he had a bad cough. He had walking pneumonia. I am amazed at how Peter keeps pushing himself. Peter learned about Southern hospitality. He was totally amazed by Alabama. It wasn't anything like people had told him. He learned alot about the Civil War and also that Alabama's favorite subject is football.
Peter was in Shelby County in a phone booth talking to his family when someone drove up and took his backpack. There were four drunnk men in a truck and they threatened Peter. He was very afraid and I would have been too. When he told him he worked for a magazine and was walking across America they seemed to believe him and even offered him a beer. They finally let him go but Peter hid in the woods off the road and they kept driving by looking for him. I wouldn't have slept all night either. The next day when Peter was walking the man drove up and apologized to him.
Peter was in Shelby County in a phone booth talking to his family when someone drove up and took his backpack. There were four drunnk men in a truck and they threatened Peter. He was very afraid and I would have been too. When he told him he worked for a magazine and was walking across America they seemed to believe him and even offered him a beer. They finally let him go but Peter hid in the woods off the road and they kept driving by looking for him. I wouldn't have slept all night either. The next day when Peter was walking the man drove up and apologized to him.
A Walk Across America - Chapters 21-22
Peter and Cooper took a walk in the woods to spend some time together. Cooper didn't like the farm. Peter and Cooper came up on a German Shepherd who tried to attack Cooper and Peter. Cooper jumped in front of Cooper to protect Peter. He went crazy to protect Peter. Peter kicked the shepherd off of Cooper and the shepherd suddenly became friendly.
Peter decided to tell the Farm people that they would be leaving soon. On the way to work Cooper got hit by a water truck. Peter didn't believe Cooper would be hurt because he believed Cooper would live forever. He listened for a heartbeat but he could not hear one. They took him to the clinic and the dentist told Peter and Cooper was dead. Peter dug a hole for Cooper and his friend on the farm, Jones helped him. The farmers were nice to Peter and tried to get him to stay but he wanted to leave more than ever. He left nine days later. I think I would have had to go home after loosing Cooper. He loved Cooper so much and they were so close. The walk would be so lonely now and Cooper was his companion and best friend.
Peter decided to tell the Farm people that they would be leaving soon. On the way to work Cooper got hit by a water truck. Peter didn't believe Cooper would be hurt because he believed Cooper would live forever. He listened for a heartbeat but he could not hear one. They took him to the clinic and the dentist told Peter and Cooper was dead. Peter dug a hole for Cooper and his friend on the farm, Jones helped him. The farmers were nice to Peter and tried to get him to stay but he wanted to leave more than ever. He left nine days later. I think I would have had to go home after loosing Cooper. He loved Cooper so much and they were so close. The walk would be so lonely now and Cooper was his companion and best friend.
A Walk Across America - Chapters 19-20
Peter felt alot of pain leaving Smokey Hollow because he grew to love his new family. They crossed into Georgia and someone told him about a farm that he should go visit that was 300 miles out of the way. He decided they needed to see it and turned to go toward Tennesse. Peter must really be curious about this place to walk 300 miles out of the way. Peter and Cooper passed by some people having a picnic and they invited him for a coke. He saw them drinking water from a jug and wanted some but when he took a drink it wasn't water, it was moonshine. This made his walk a little harder that afternoon. I would be scared to drink after strangers. They stopped at a gas station and Cooper got in a fight with a Great Dane. Both dogs were equally strong and good fighters. It must have been hard for Peter to watch Cooper fight and not step in. The dogs gave up because neither was stronger. The Great Dane owner wanted to buy Cooper and fight him in dog fights. Peter wouldn't sell him, not even for a million dollars. He really loves his dog. I would sell my dog for a million dollars!
Peter and Cooper made it to the farm. The farm was 2000 acres and the people lived in tents. They helped with the farming and helped raise each others kids. They had their babies on the farm. There were a lot of pregnant women on the farm. They were very religious. They belived that everyone was God. They believed that they were all one and they should not compete for food or housing or individuality. They had meditation on Sunday. They would sit cross-legged and chant. They believed that God disappears every time you look for him. This is all so strange to me. Why would someone worship a God that disappears? I believe God created us to be individuals and to worship him and be dependent on him, not some professor from a university. Before Peter left he researched the Farm and who the people were that live on the Farm. He discovered that most of them had no religious belief and decided that they came to the Farm looking for religion. Peter thought that maybe he was looking for his God too.
Peter and Cooper made it to the farm. The farm was 2000 acres and the people lived in tents. They helped with the farming and helped raise each others kids. They had their babies on the farm. There were a lot of pregnant women on the farm. They were very religious. They belived that everyone was God. They believed that they were all one and they should not compete for food or housing or individuality. They had meditation on Sunday. They would sit cross-legged and chant. They believed that God disappears every time you look for him. This is all so strange to me. Why would someone worship a God that disappears? I believe God created us to be individuals and to worship him and be dependent on him, not some professor from a university. Before Peter left he researched the Farm and who the people were that live on the Farm. He discovered that most of them had no religious belief and decided that they came to the Farm looking for religion. Peter thought that maybe he was looking for his God too.
A Walk Across America - Chapters 17-18
Peter and Cooper went for a walk to enjoy Spring. Peter trained so hard for his walk across America and I wonder if he is getting out of shape by not walking all day. I know he is working hard at the saw mill but he was conditioned to walk 35 miles a day. I wonder how he will start back on his walk. Will he just start walking or have to train again? During their walk through the wild flowers he heard Eric calling him. He ran home and took shelter because a big storm was coming. He said the tornado sounded like a locomotive. It didn't hit their home but when things calmed down they took a ride and saw a lot of devistation. People died and many lost their homes. Ranger Baptist Church, a white church, lost their church building and joined the black people at Mount Zion Baptist. Everyone worshiped together and didn't seem to notice skin color. The black people took up an offering to give to the white people to help rebuild their church. The tragedy brought the people together and brought out the goodness in them.
Peter was getting ready to leave Smokey Hollow. Zach was the first person in his family to graduate high school and Peter encouraged him to go to college. At first he thought it could never happen but he did go to college on a basketball scholarship. Peter had raised enough money to leave and his family was coming for a visit before he started walking again. Mary cooked a huge feast for his family and Peter learned that she had used the money she needed for her medicine to buy the food. She even blacked out from not having her medicine. She really loves Peter to make that kind of sacrifice for his family. They had a big feast and surprised Peter with a birthday cake a week before his birthday. As his black and white family sang to him he noticed Eric was crying. Leaving was hard for him because he had truly found a new family.
Peter was getting ready to leave Smokey Hollow. Zach was the first person in his family to graduate high school and Peter encouraged him to go to college. At first he thought it could never happen but he did go to college on a basketball scholarship. Peter had raised enough money to leave and his family was coming for a visit before he started walking again. Mary cooked a huge feast for his family and Peter learned that she had used the money she needed for her medicine to buy the food. She even blacked out from not having her medicine. She really loves Peter to make that kind of sacrifice for his family. They had a big feast and surprised Peter with a birthday cake a week before his birthday. As his black and white family sang to him he noticed Eric was crying. Leaving was hard for him because he had truly found a new family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)