S.O.S.

We have been hearing SOS a lot lately.

In a different environment, this yell would trigger a response of action to save lives, but in our home it has become an endearing term.

It started when our new guests asked us all if we knew what SOS means. It was the trail name, that this middle aged hiker from Mississippi had been entitled with and we were about to hear the story of how he got it.

He shared of his SOS alarm going off for hours while he hung out with other hikers and swam. Only when he put his pack back on did he realize that it was in fact his system going off. Thankfully, he was able to get in contact with the response team and notify them that all is well. And SOS walked forth from that mile onward.

Tela has loved SOS’s companionship and the new found joy of yelling out “Save Our Souls!” at random times. After a couple days and some wonderful conversations with SOS I came to realize that part of his journey as SOS on this trail was the yearning to save the souls of all the black americans, even those that are not on the trail. It went deeper than that. He wanted to save the souls of the white americans too. He wanted healing for this country, unity and connection. He wanted to alter the racist stride that keeps so many souls on separate trails.

I do not know what his life consisted of, being raised in Mississippi.

I know that the continued mental separations between blacks and whites remains unhealthy and strong in their rivers.

I do not know what it was liked to be raised in those waters. Yet I couldn't help but see him having been baptized and come up anew. He did not want those mental separations to keep him from seeing everyone for exactly who they are. I believe his love of books helped with this immensely. The bigger world that words can introduce you to is the next best thing, other than writing your own words, as you expand your own world.

I believe that SOS will continue the rest of this trail. He will continue to ring the alarm: There are souls that need saving. There are still racist separations that keep black americans away from the trail. There are still too many mental separations that keep us from seeing each other as nothing more than weary fellow travelers on one long distance trail or another.



I believe that SOS will continue long after he has finished the pct; he is a very special soul that has an alarm to ring and it was a privilege to have him here.