Thursday, June 9th, 2016

Thursday, June 9^th, 2016

Mishawaka, Indiana

Johnny, the Mechanic and Others

We met Johnny, the mechanic.  I couldn’t hear what he was saying over the traffic noise.  He was definitely addressing myself so I and Gopal decided to cross the street in order to make things audible.  While working on a vehicle he repeated himself, “That’s an interesting dress you got on!”

“They’re actually robes.  I’m a monk.”

“Oh, yeah!?  Are you on your way to the monastery?”

“Not really,” and then we explained.  He broke away from his work and we shook hands as best as we could through a meshed metal gate.  Uttama was near.  He parked the van and came over with two publications, one of them was “Chant and Be Happy,” he passed them over the fence to Johnny. Elated to receive them, he gave a $20 bill and said, “Get some water with that!”  He chuckled.

At the university campus of Notre Dame we paid a visit to the Basilica if the Sacred Heart.  The interior is awe-inspiring.  There we arranged to meet Selena Ponio of the “South Bend Tribune” for an interview.  She asked for the purpose behind the walk and that opened up to a deeper explanation than we presented to Johnny.  We had the time to do so.

“I’m doing this to encourage introspective walking and, when the opportunity arises, to speak about the secret combat,” the battle within-- with the demons inside: lust, anger, and greed.

Gopal and I ventured on for the last leg of today’s trek.  We left the sidewalk to enter a pub, but only to get some fluid-- water-- and to discharge. Otherwise I have no business being there.  Sure enough, we made friends.  Sitting at the bar was Dave.  He knew the protocol.

“Namaste!”  He said and put together his palms spontaneously.

May the Source be with you!

21 miles