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What can I say? There remains in me a strong desire to get out there and share the
story of Medjugorje. So, that’s what I am going to do.
On March 31, I will once again set out from Vancouver, BC en route to St. John’s,
NL. Along the way, I will share the story of Medjugorje and pray for peace.
Though this may very well sound like a continuation of 10 Million Steps for Peace
(10 MSP), it is not. 10 MSP was prudently and prayerfully discontinued due to lack
of sponsorship. This is something altogether different.
How is it different? I will explain:
The first difference relates to my message.
Mir Movement’s message of “Peace, peace, peace – and only peace!” originates in Medjugorje.
It is only by presenting the message in the context of Medjugorje, then, that it can
be fully understood and properly acted upon.
Having come to this realization, my primary goal on this trip will be to share the
story of Medjugorje and, in doing so, present Mir Movement’s message of peace in its
proper light.
To this end, I will introduce myself in the following way to those whom I meet:
"My name is Joseph. I am walking across Canada to share the story of Medjugorje and
its message of peace. Would you like to hear the story?"
If they are interested, I will stop and talk. If they are not, I will wish them peace
and continue on.
The second difference is related my prayer.
~"Nothing is equal to prayer; for what is impossible it makes possible, what is difficult,
easy..."[1]~
~"What is impossible for human beings is possible for God."[2]~
Works are good. Prayer is infinitely better. In other words, all of the
walking and talking in the world won't change anything if these actions aren't united
to prayer. So, I will pray too. My prayer will take the form of offering up all of
my daily trials - from Vancouver to St. John's - in petition that God will grant
the world a fresh outpouring of His peace (see Prayer
for Peace…).
Every step, every hobble, every kilometre, every climb, every descent, every blister,
every cramp, every ache, every snowfall, every downpour, ever wind blast, every lightning
flash, every cold night, every hot day, every rejection, every humiliation, every
disappointment, every failed attempt to share the story of Medjugorje, every failed
attempt to encourage peace, every time I get laughed at, every time I get called crazy,
every tear, every grimace, every unhappy thought, every frustration, every consideration
of giving up, every breakdown, every moment of hunger, every moment of thirst, every
sickness, every sleepless moment, every thought of comfort, every rock in my shoe,
every puddle I step in (I hate that), every car that almost hits me (I hate that even
more)…everything…everything will be offered up in prayer.
It might not be much, but it’s what I got. And I will ask God to accept it.
The third difference is related to my approach.
This time around, my approach will be simple: it will just be
me and the message and the country of Canada. That’s it.
I want to be free to move as I am moved. I do not want to be a slave to timelines
and budgets and “to-do” lists. I just want to share the story to the extent that I
am given opportunity to do so.
So, that’s the sitch.
If you want to stay up-to-date with things, please check back here periodically; I
will post photos and journals as
I am able.
I look forward to sharing my stories upon my return. Till then…
Peace, peace, peace – and only peace!
[1]: St. John Chrysostom, De Anna 4, 5: PG 54, 666
[2]: The New American Bible - Lk 18:27
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