Dear friends we are now well into August and I am presently walking thru the Arizona desert close to Phoenix. The real challenge at the moment is the heat. It gets up to around 110 degrees with 90% humidity. I have been walking very early in the morning and finishing before 11am because after that you cant be outside.
After walking each day I hitch it back to my car as I am still without a driver. I must say the people who pick me up have been very interesting.
One morning as a joke I said to the Universe I would like to get a ride back to my car in one of those big trucks. After some time with my Irish thumb sticking out, a huge semi stopped in the middle of the road. When I opened the door there was a little Indian man behind the wheel. Talk about like attracts like. I asked him if he knew who I was dressed as and he said the Buddha. I laughed for an entire day on that one.
Marjorie at the Sheffler hotel in Salome Arizona was kind enough to sponsor me a room for the night. A hot shower after a long day of walking a cold shower never felt so good. Later on that day she invited me for some tea. We talked about Gandhi and about Peace in America. Marjorie said I know I can't bring peace to the world but I can bring more peace into my home. After chatting, she shared how inspired she was by what we were doing. She decided to check out our website and research Gandhi online. She then sat her two kids down and chatted to them about Gandhi and his life. Her older daughter was very interested and to top that she even made her husband sit with her and chat about Gandhi and the walk even though at first he thought I was a lunatic. Don't worry Mr Bohlen you are not the first and somehow probably not the last. Thanks again Marjorie for the cup of tea, the room, and the chat. ☺
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Another day I was hitch hiking back to my car when after standing out on the road for two hours I put my thumb out for a passing highway patrolman. He passed me by then turned around like Starsky and Hutch and pulled up along side me and reminded me that hitchhiking in Arizona is illegal. I said I didn't know that but could I have a ride anyway and he paused for a minute, then said hop in the back. Off Gandhi went. By the way the back seat of a cop car is really cramped. Its built that way so people who get arrested won't kick the cops in the head. I feel sorry for any basketball players who have ever been arrested. We chatted for a while and I told the officer we both had the same profession. "What's that ?" he said. Well, we are both working for Peace. That gave him a chuckle. I asked him why he wanted to be a policeman and he said he really wanted just to be of service to people. Two things in common, who knew? He said cops get a bad rap, it's hard to do the job and still have people like us. I asked him about the war in Iraq and he said the job is done lets bring our boys back home. Let the Iraqi people sort out the rest themselves. Shortly thereafter we arrived at my car. I asked him to take a picture of me in the back, with a big grin on his face he said sure why not.
You know dear friends when I first started this walk I thought I was going to change the World. What I'm finding out is thru these encounters that I am having with people when I just listen to what they have to share, these beautiful conversations come pouring out. I am realizing I can't change the world but I can inspire people to look within and find their own answers. I used to think only certain enlightened people could teach me something new or profound but I am learning everyone I come in contact is a teacher.
Gandhi said, " No one is above me and no one is below me." Now I know what he meant. We still have peacewalks planned and lots of other interesting ways to promote peace but it's not about changing anyone. Its about doing what brings me more peace and inviting others to join me if it makes them feel good to promote Peace too. The best way to create change is to inspire change. Thats what Gandhi did.
Well my dear friends I hope you found something here that inspires you to create more of whatever it is you want in your life. Take care of yourself and each other and may Peace and Truth guide your way always. Dermot Butterly aka Gandhi Rollingstone. ☺
SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE
The walk is primarily being run on doantions which are gratefully accepted at www.gandhipeacealk.org
or if you would like to make a tax deduction for your donation please mail a check made out to earthways/gandhipeacewalk at 20178 rockport way, Malibu CA 90265. The Gandhi Peacewak is a project of Earthways a non-profit 501(C3) organisation.
BIG THANKS to Marjorie at the Sheffler Motel in Salome, AZ
and to Barbara at the International Inn in Salome for the sponsored rooms for the night.
Special Needs
We are doing Peacewalks in Albuquerque in early October and we are looking to contact people in that area. If you know of anyone who would like to help and or walk please let us know.
Please FORWARD this newletter to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.
Peace and Truth,
Dermot Butterly, aka Gandhi Rollingstone :)
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PURPOSE OF PEACEWALK
1. Create Peace within ourselves and on Earth
2. Plant trees to reduce global warming
3. Build a Community Center in India
|  We invite you to promote peace within yourself and in your Communities.
WE ARE INVITING EVERYONE WHO HEARS ABOUT US TO JOIN OUR PEACEWALK.
Thru tv, radio, internet, peace concerts, and environmental discussions
we will educate communities on simple ways to help heal the Earth while inspiring people to create more PEACE inside so we do not create more WAR outside. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world that is environmentally sustainable and where Peace is not just something you see on the back of a bumper sticker but is an everyday reality. This can be our future only if enough of us begin to act NOW.
We invite you to help spread the word, Dermot |
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