Final Post

I want to thank everyone who has supported me for the past 20 months. When I left Portugal in November 2011 with 235 euros, I never really expected to get to Egypt. Your contributions amounted to well over 3000 euros; your offers of hospitality along the way probably double that amount. So here I am.
Though I reached the pyramids, walking for Masterpeace, I was unable to deliver my peace petitions. Nevertheless, the subject of peace in the Middle East was discussed and argued from Portugal to Egypt, and awareness of the problem in Israel and Palestine is the first step to a solution.
I may have inspired a few people as I walked, and they may become better peacemakers than I have been.
In any case, I hope I have achieved something for the good of humanity. Most certainly, those of you who supported me have done some good for humanity, not because you supported me, but because you supported someone in need, and because you shared a belief in the possibility of world peace.
My Buddhist friends would call that good karma.

I would say to anyone who is led by God to do something, or to anyone who feels compelled to live authentically-- whether that leading or compulsion is to walk for peace, or to cycle to China, or to volunteer at a homeless shelter, or to devote oneself to raising a family in a peaceful and loving environment-- I would say to that person to follow that leading. If work gets in the way, find another job. If cynical people get in the way, go around them. If fear gets in the way, face that fear. Whatever the obstacles, try to overcome them, or put them aside to live your life abundantly.

I am taking a car to Sharm al Sheik in a few hours, then flying to Milan in the morning.
I hope to find work in Italy; possibly picking  fruit, as suggested by Italian freediving friend Crista.
With what I earn I hope to buy a second hand touring bike, and to cycle from Germany to Syria to raise money for Syrian refugees. When I was in Antakya, Turkey, near the Syrian border, I felt I had unfinished business there. This fundraiser will probably be done through International Rescue Committee. www.rescue.org‎
My new blog, which is under construction, is cyclingtosyria.blogspot.com.


Finally, St. Francis' Prayer, which I picked up in a church in the French Alps.

Lord, make me your instrument of peace.

Where there is hatred, may I bring love.

Where there is offense, may I bring forgiveness.

Where there is dissension, may I bring union.

Where there is error, may I bring Truth.

Where there is doubt, may I bring faith.

Where there is despair, may I bring hope.

Where there is darkness, may I bring light.

Where there is sadness, may I bring joy.

Lord, may I not seek comfort, but give comfort;

try, not to be understood, but to understand;

try, not to be loved, but to love.

For it is in giving, that we receive;

in forgetting ourselves that we find ourselves;

in forgiving, that we obtain forgiveness;

and in dying, that we live for eternal life.

Thank you again, friends.
Peace!