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Sunday September 6, 2009

Pilgrim George walks to share God's word

by The Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Pilgrim George sits in the tiny kitchen of the rectory of Father Mojmir Zalcik of Saint Mary's Orthodox Church in Westover. Zalcik pulls a steaming bowl of Haluski -- a Slovakian dish of fried noodles -- and a chicken leg from the microwave to serve to the pilgrim for lunch.

George is taking a short break on a four-month-long trek. He's on the final leg and hopes to be at his destination -- Uniontown, Pa. -- by Monday.

Pilgrim George begins eating and Zalcik pets his dog as the two strangers converse about the times they crossed paths in life without knowing it.

There are several "you were there, then?'' and exclamations of "you knew him?'' as the two realize they have mutual friends.

There is even some theological discussion over Genesis 3:15 (the verse that talks of good vs. evil) and the picture that hangs around Pilgrim George's neck.

The picture is of baby Jesus being held by his mother Mary. The picture is not the only feature that is predominant with the Roman Catholic pilgrim. He has a long, white beard that he said he realizes leads some people to call him Moses. His patchwork robe is made of denim; one that he can replace while on the road.

Zalcik is from the Czech Republic and came to Westover three years ago. He still speaks with a heavy accent. But that doesn't slow the two down.

The two discuss how they ended up where they are. Both say they received a call from God. For Zalcik it was to become pastor of St. Mary's; for Pilgrim George it is walking the Earth.

"If he gives you a call,'' Pilgrim George said, "He gives you the means to fulfill it.'' Zalcik is one of the people who has helped Pilgrim George fulfill his call, by providing food to the self-described man of poverty.

Pilgrim George -- whose birth name is George Walter -- walks across different parts of the United States every summer. He ends his journey every year at Mount Saint Macrina Monastery in Uniontown for Labor Day.

He spends about four months walking and then spends the other months inside his home at the Holy Trinity Monastery in Butler, Pa.

The monastery had a vacant house and the officials there permit Pilgrim George to stay there even though he is not a member of the monastery.

On Tuesday, Pilgrim George walked through the Morgantown area. He said was in the area three years ago. He began walking in 1971, after arriving in Jerusalem at the end of a 4,000-mile hike. Before then, he was in seminary training to become a Catholic priest. The 68-year-old said that in Jerusalem he received his call from God telling him he should walk all over the world. And he's been doing that ever since.

Pilgrim George said he walks from sunup to sundown and usually covers eight to 10 miles a day. Jesus walked the earth and Pilgrim George said he walks to "lift Jesus up.'' It is part of God's plan, and he will continue to do so until he gets a new message, he said.

"Till Jesus comes back or takes me home,'' Pilgrim George said, "whichever comes first.''

Pilgrim George he said he wants people to take notice of his walking stick -- a large cross atop a long rod -- more than to see him.

He carved the rod near the Cave of Elijah on Mount Sinai 10 years ago.

"The cross is what I hope they see first,'' Pilgrim George said. The cross is the reason he is walking, and he wants people to notice it and get its message, Pilgrim George said. But, it's hard not to notice the man carrying the cross. From his long flowing beard to patchwork clothing to the bags of supplies he carries, he is a head-turner for many motorists.

Many motorists moved over to give him room to walk along U.S. 19 on Tuesday morning. Others slowed and watched out their car windows as they passed. A few even stopped to take pictures, for which Pilgrim George gladly posed.

In his 31 years of walking, Pilgrim George said he has never been hit by a car or had to visit the hospital while walking. When he sees a car, Pilgrim George said he prays for the driver. He also prays for everybody who crosses his path each day.

Occasionally, Pilgrim George said he gets harassed by motorists or other pedestrians will yell things at him. Pilgrim George said this does not deter him, he doesn't take offense to it because they have not seen God's message yet. Sometimes, police will show up to ask him what he is doing, Pilgrim George said. Most of the time, it is because someone has called them.

"Most of the time, they want to make sure I haven't escaped from a mental hospital or have Alzheimer's,'' Pilgrim George said. He said he doesn't let those questions bother him, because people only go by what they see and the stereotypes they have formed.

During his walks, Pilgrim George said he is completely dependent on the kindness of strangers. He carries no money and only a handful of snacks, such as nuts. Many times strangers offer him bottled water or hot meals, Pilgrim George said.

Some will occasionally offer him a place to stay, but most nights he spends in a tent that he pitches in a quiet, secluded place along his path.

Pilgrim George said his favorite part of walking is the chance to meet people.

"Looking into the eyes and seeing the soul of the brothers and sisters of Christ,'' Pilgrim George said. "In other words, you see genuine love.''

One of those people he came across Tuesday was Zalcik. While walking through Westover, Pilgrim George reached the Dollar General. Zalcik was waiting for him.

Zalcik said he saw the man while he was driving and had to find out what he was all about. That's when he invited George to join him for lunch and a tour of his church.

"It's a revelation,'' said Zalcik, moments after Pilgrim George left Zalcik's church to continue his journey. "You don't meet people everyday like him.

"I won't forget him,'' Zalcik said. "Not now, not in the future