Does a journey need a purpose?

Miss Ash (of perilouslyprecocious.com) left a comment about my lack of updates and I suppose its fair to say I should explain my absence. I took a little enjoyment from being missed by someone but it also highlights something about why I slowly lost interest in blogging, mainly that I don’t receive feedback on my thoughts other than the occasional spam that I mistake as relevant. The goal of this site is to compare my thoughts with others, hopefully inspiring at least one side to consider an alternate point of view. Perhaps that might be fault for stating things in a matter-of-fact’ly manor?

In any event, as of late I’ve been more and more taken with the idea of travel by foot. It started a while ago when I was either reading part of the new testament or had watched AJ Jacobs’ TEDTalk on Living Biblically for a year. For whatever reason the verses of Mark 6:8-11 have been echoing through my mind on and off since (Your allowed to take a walking stick in this version ):

These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”

A short time after I starting thinking about the idea of doing it, I received an instant message(IM) from a person I didn’t know. Apparently whatever program he used had a button to randomly select someone who was online to IM, we talked for a little bit and a number of similarities appeared. Among other things we were roughly the same age and happened to be thinking about traveling around the USA. He was thinking more about using busses to get around though. Kind of a weird Synchronicity if I wanted to read into it in that way. Been a few months thinking about aspects on and off like how to deal with things like clothing, food, shelter and etc.

In November another TEDTalk video brought it to mind, this time by John Francis on his time spent without using motorized vehicals or speaking, yet accomplishing quite a bit. He also mentioned a figure, Peace Pilgrim who seemed to embody the guidelines given in Mark. After that I started searching more actively for information: reading his book, one about backpacking for a year in mexico (http://www.vagabondstory.com/), and stumbling across RoadJunky.com a site with much information on various types of travel.

The questions still remain: to what degree to I follow the biblical guideline; Do I keep a debit card just incase; Take a backpack and tent, just a backpack, a small messanger’s bag or nothing but what i wear? The messanger’s bag would let me take my pan flute to learn as I walk and a performace could be a way to get a meal should it be needed. A bag would also serve to carry and protect a book for drawing or writing in like Francis had. If i did end up begging a change of clothing and razor could go a long way to improving a first impression. Even more, do I blog about it? How would I update this? If I’m paying to keep the site up, shouldn’t I worry about feeding myself first rather than begging or hoping for random kindness?

For what purpose would I even be doing this? Francis was attempting to raise awareness about the environment, Peace Pilgrim was circulating a message of acceptance, peace and love. Do I need a purpose? Can the purpose be to find a purpose? If I had to choose right now I’d have to go with finding a purpose or just to meet and involve myself with new people and places and do my best to understand them as they are. Its been suggested to me that doing this I’d be little more than a parasite on society; while I’m certain society would fair just as well without another peon working at a fast food place or department store I do wonder if they are not at least a little right about the position.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

John Francis and Peace Pilgrim lived as they preached, I suppose my position may indeed be selfish but I’m not yet certain what change I wish to be. I’d love comments or suggestions about how to go about this wisely or other advice. I lean towards carrying only a messanger bag with two books, a pen and a pan flute; though less may very well be more.

~ by NewAgeAlchemist on January 16, 2009.