Journeying down the lonesome stretches of rolling prairie along U.S. Highway 2, I found myself enveloped in the tranquil expanse of Montana’s countryside. The clock barely nudged 9:30 am when I made a sudden pit stop at a random place along the side of the road.
As I stood next to the van, the only sound was the hum of a passing car, scarce as it was. Amidst this serene isolation I spotted a figure in the distance. Clad in a fluorescent yellow vest and clutching a vivid red flag, he seemed like any other road worker going about his business. I hardly gave him a second thought.
Minutes later, he rounded the corner of my van, offering a friendly greeting that caught me off guard. His inquiry about my destination was met with a casual “Cut Bank,” to which he replied with a smile, revealing his own ambitious journey.
“Where you headed?”
“Seattle,” he says.
Seattle? I’m puzzled. Could there be a town of the same name in Montana? The Seattle I know is six hundred miles west; I’d passed through it three weeks earlier.
Yet, as he stood there, unaccompanied by any truck or crew, a hint of disbelief crept into my mind. Who was this lone wanderer, traversing the vast expanse on foot?
“I’m walking from Miami to Seattle to raise money for charity.”
My skepticism melted away when he showed me a brochure, A brief glance illuminated his noble cause – raising awareness for childhood adoption through his “Charity Steps” initiative.
In that moment, it all made sense. he was no lost soul, but a modern-day crusader, undertaking a remarkable journey of purpose and compassion. With 3,700 miles already underfoot, his determination was palpable.
With a newfound admiration for his cause and a cheer in my heart, we bid each other adieu, his resolute stride echoing in my mind long after he disappeared from view.