Day after day on this Walk Across America, the blisters on my feet remind me of the costs, but the conversations I’ve had along the way have healed something much deeper. I’ve stopped to talk to strangers on corners, at bus stops, at rest stops and McDonald’s, and many other places. Most of us would call these people ordinary, but that wouldn’t be true because each of them was unique in his or her own way. They are the salt of the earth who make the world go round.
None of them asked about party lines, protests or the latest arguments on social media. They all talked about where they were going, their jobs, their children’s futures, the price of food, church, football games and how they could help others or keep children on the wrong path. They spoke with passion and saw themselves as part of the community. They had a role. They felt important.
A retired teacher told how she gives free tutoring to children after school. She considers her retirement a blessing and sees this as her way of giving back. I was talking to a man whose truck had broken down when a mechanic stopped and offered to fix the stranger’s truck. I even spoke to a teenager who pushed his lawn mower down the street to mow an elderly person’s lawn for free. All these conversations did wonders for my soul.
They also made me realize that America is not as divided as the headlines scream. What unites us is not manufactured in Washington, DC or amplified on screens. It was forged in the quiet acres of faith, family and charity. I would even argue that those in the spotlight treat each other more harshly than the people on the street.
I have seen black and white believers lock arms in prayer. I have seen couples of all shades and married people of different shades. I’ve seen conservatives and liberals refuse to surrender their friendships to volatile politics. I have seen people organize work and sports around the fairest and most valuable principle of all: merit. And I’ve seen losers and winners hug each other as they both went home to work on what needed to be improved.
Psalm 133 declares, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” It is as if precious oil is poured on the head and flows down to bring blessings. Ephesians 4 urges us to “make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We cannot enforce unity through laws or shame. It must come about organically, rooted in a shared belief and purpose.
Back on Chicago’s South Side, I’ve seen the divisions that arise: suspicion, silos, violence. The cause is bad faith and policies that promote dependency. How can you be all you can be if you put your life, or part of it, in the hands of someone else – especially the cold, faceless government?
MY WALK THROUGH AMERICA IS A LESSON IN GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS
This walk shows a much better reality. In diners, churches and front yards across these states, people are hungry for real connection — not performative activism, but authentic community that says, “Your struggles are mine, and we will rise together through hard work, prayer, and accountability to God.”
This is not naive optimism. I see it with my own eyes. I feel like I’m back in my hometown of Kenton, Tennessee, where life was always like this – and I loved it. I miss it so much, but it warms my heart to know that it is still alive in many parts of America. I’ve met former gang members who mentored youth, business owners who hired overlooked people, and pastors who crossed city lines to collaborate. They don’t wait for permission or programs. They live the merit-based, faith-driven life that built this nation. And when they do, the barriers fall away.
As I walk across America toward my distant goal of Los Angeles, I bring forth this truth. Unity cannot be achieved by erasing differences. This is accomplished by elevating what matters most: God, family, and opportunity creation.
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My Million Steps isn’t just about financing a building on the South Side of Chicago. They must remind America — and especially remind myself — that we can still come together around these timeless values.
This walk has filled my soul with happiness and faith. What I have seen is beauty – American beauty. You know what I say is true. You know it still exists.
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We may not walk together, but we walk with me in spirit and are part of the greatness of this nation.
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