It was appropriate, I think, that the CROP Walk fell on the first Sunday of Lent. Lent--the journey of 40 days during which we seek a deeper awareness of our sin. It is a time which traditionally has encouraged activities such as fasting and giving of alms to help us step away from the rush of normal life, to stop and remember.
It was meaningful, therefore, that we could spend the first Sunday of Lent walking as a church among a larger community to raise money for the poor and to remember the reality of injustice in our world.
CROP stands for Communities Reaching Out to People and is an annual event sponsored by Church World Service in communities all over the US (Definitely worth a check in your area!). It invites congregations of various faiths, social groups, schools, and other organizations to participate by getting donors and then walking together on a given route, on a given day.
Arcadia's walk was on March 9th this year, and 30 of us (up from 3 last year!) from Dan's parents' church joined. The day was clear and sunny (a nice winter temperature of 70 degrees!!) and excitement was high as we walked the 6-mile route around Arcadia. (See the pictures to the right.)

All of us finished and had a big surprise waiting for us at the finish line: the monies had been collected and totalled and our little church had raised just under $2,000!

It was a day of great weather, friends, and fun, and also a chance to remember those who walk everyday out of necessity and to consider the part that we play in bringing justice for all.