A Walk With a Purpose

When I was younger, I mean as in child years, I did the Crop Walk.  I signed up and asked people to pledge money to raise money for the hungry.  I have good memories of those times, the feeling of doing something for others being amazing.  

And so when I came back to Woodstock this summer and heard through our church about the Walk for Hunger, I immediately signed up.  Thinking that I would like to recruit someone to do it with me, I grabbed another form.  

Recruit in mind, I went over to my friend Sarah's house and asked if I could see her oldest, Rachael.  My timing wasn't the best, doors already closed with kids tucked into bed behind them.  (Single girl; silly girl.)  I told Rae about the walk.  I felt my teaching skills fail me, as my explanation seemed sub par.  To my fascinated surprise, however, she was interested, really interested.  I told her how to fill out the form and raise money and with that I gave her a hug.  The smile on my face was huge, the feeling of sharing in the gift of giving with someone else like her more exciting than anything.  

Days later, we waited in the Woodstock Square for the walk to start, both of us sitting in the grass.  As soon as everyone was called to come together, we got up and joined in.  Before long everybody was on there way.

Rae and I talked about school and life while we walked.  I loved hearing about things that she deals with, boys and friends, and her thoughts on them.  

The walk was long, but we kept each other going with thoughts of custard and being finished.  By the end I was so proud of her that I couldn't help but gush and say over and over just how proud I was of her.

It was remarkable to see Rae want to make a difference and I was so happy to be there and see it.