the peace pilgrim

In my writers’ group on Thursday, I shared a chapter in which we were traveling through the Arizona desert. Out of nowhere it seemed, a lone woman crested the hill, walking backward in the direction we were headed. Her legs seemed to melt into the shimmering pavement, and in the blazing sunlight, her dress looked almost transparent. My brother joked that she was a mirage. We encountered her again in Missouri, but that initial image sticks with me most clearly. 

Not long ago, I discovered a wealth of newspaper articles about this woman. The accompanying photographs typically depict her in a blue tunic and pants, so perhaps the dress was a memory glitch, I don’t know. But she wasn’t a mirage. She was Mildred Lisette Norman, aka Peace Pilgrim. And oh, how I wish I could go backward in time…to walk awhile with her, and to support her laudible (albeit unusual) journey. 

At just over an hour, this video is somewhat lengthy. But if you’ve ever wondered whether a single, seemingly ordinary person can make a difference in the world, I encourage you to watch it. You’ll see this remarkable woman through the lens of time, as perceived by some of my favorite people (including Maya Angelou and the Dalai Lama). Perhaps it’ll stir in you a desire to step out in faith, whatever that means for you personally.