1-year Anniversary Letter

To all those who supported my 2008 cross-Canada Walk-n-talk:

This month marked the 1-year anniversary of beginning my cross-Canada walk to share the story of Medjugorje and encourage “peace, peace, peace – and only peace!”

As you might imagine, with the arrival, and subsequent passing, of that anniversary came great cause for reflection on my part – after all, one doesn’t spend 6 ½ months walking across the second largest country in the world every day.

While I have to admit that I remain incapable of wrapping my head around the full depth and breadth of the experience, there was one absolute that came from my musing:

What I can say unequivocally about my trip across Canada is that the greatest gifts I received on that journey – and I received many - were the countless examples of charity that were set for me by you. These examples/gifts were so valuable because of the dramatic impact they had on my walk and me:

Firstly, and most obviously, your charity provided for my immediate needs while I was on the road. When I was thirsty, you pulled over to the side of the road to hand me bottles of water. When I was hungry, you brought me into your home and shared your food with me. When I was down, you had a word of encouragement to lift my spirits. When I was scared, you gave me a secure place to sleep. In all these ways (and countless others) you were my Divine Providence – you gave me the things I could not provide for myself at the time. Ultimately, it was because of your providence that I was able to successfully complete the effort. Thank-you for providing for my needs.

Secondly, your charity renewed my hope in society. While I am sure you did not intend this particular effect, you should know it came about all the same:

It’s no secret that I can be very pessimistic about the moral, ethical and peaceable state of our society. I often find myself wondering if there is enough good in the world to turn things around, so to speak.

But, you changed this perspective. Repeatedly, you came into my life and selflessly helped me in whatever way you could. Every time you did this, you left me asking myself, "Why did you do that?...there was nothing in it for you.”

In the end, the only answer that made sense was that you did it because there was a goodness inside of you that demanded such action. And after seeing that goodness motivate you to help me time and time again, I couldn't help but be convinced that, indeed, there is loads of goodness remaining in the world. Thank-you for renewing my hope in society.

Thirdly, and most dramatically, your charity challenged me to give more of myself.

I am embarrassed to tell you that many, many times over the course of my trip I had to admit to myself that I wouldn’t have helped you like you helped me. In this way, my smallness was exposed. This self-realization was hard to accept at first, but in the long run it led to a resolution to become as charitable as you are. I now think of your example of charity daily and try to live up to that standard. Thank-you for challenging me in this way.

While the primary purpose of this letter is to say thank-you, I must admit an ulterior motive: I want to encourage you to become increasingly more charitable. The reason being, you have proven your ability to change worlds through your charity – you completely changed mine. I hope and pray that you realize the inherent power in your charity and use that power to change as many worlds as you can. If you do so, I have no doubt that in the end you will play a significant role in changing “the” world.

Thank-you for supporting me and my walk.

“Peace, peace, peace – and only peace!”

Joseph M. Palko

Sharing Medjugorje and encouraging "peace, peace, peace - and only peace!"