Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
Inspired by Buddhist monks, two friends plan a 90-mile kindness walk in Western Washington
Inspired by peace pilgrims, Jim Hall and Bob Bruce invite people of all beliefs to join their August journey from Shoreline to Olympia focused on compassion, conversation and connection.
By Emma Maple | FāVS News Reporter
Main Points
When Jim Hall and Bob Bruce, who have been best friends for over 50 years, heard about the Buddhist monks who walked for peace earlier this year, they had an idea: What if they did a walk of their own, one that focused on building bridges across faith and politics?
The plan quickly took shape, leading to the kindness walk that the duo have planned Aug. 12-20.
The nine-day walk will cross nearly 90 miles and several faith communities between Shoreline and Olympia.
“We discovered we both had a dream of doing something like that,” Bruce said, referring to the group of monks who traversed thousands of miles from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., with a message of peace.
Hall and Bruce invite anyone to join them, for one conversation, one mile, one day or even more.
If people don’t want to join on the walk, the duo also will have T-shirts and cookies to hand out.
“It’s a no brainer,” Hall said. “I get to walk almost 90 miles with my best friend, we get to hand out free T-shirts and cookies wherever we go.”
‘Be kind, do good’: A walk without signs or agendas
The walk isn’t political, the duo continually emphasized, and they’re asking people not to bring signs on the walk. Instead, it’s a chance to show up with a spirit of caring and love in a world full of anxiety and turmoil, Bruce said.
Both Bruce and Hall hope that everyone feels welcome to join, no matter their political leanings or opinions about religion and politics.
“Another way of thinking of it is it could probably be the most political thing you could do, in order to try and bridge and bring people together,” Hall, a 72-year-old retiree living on Whidbey Island, said. “We want this to be just one giant invitation for anybody.”
Bruce and Hall live out bridging the gap in their own lives, building a friendship that spans faith communities. Hall is a Quaker, while Bruce is a Catholic. Many of their friends have other faith backgrounds, like being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“It really doesn’t make any difference,” Bruce, a 71-year-old, half-retired substitute teacher living in Eugene,Oregon, said.
The walk is a way to put their life philosophies into action, expressing the universal love that they hold for each other.
“We want to share that love with them,” Bruce said. “That’s worth the 90 miles plus.”
There’s a simple mantra for the walk, which will be featured on the T-shirts: “Be kind, do good.”
The back of the T-shirts will read “Walk the talk.”
Stopping at a different faith community each day
While Bruce and Hall are still hammering out the details, they are hoping to stop in with a different faith community each day of their walk, to both celebrate differences and talk about what they have in common.
“We want to get beyond this thing where different religions, different faiths are claiming to be, you know, the one way,” Hall said.
Bruce agreed, adding that he wanted to help highlight the love that so many different faith communities are based in.
“The Bible, it says, ‘God is love,’” Bruce said. “You can stop there and just start living that.”
The walk will end on Aug. 20 on the steps of the state capitol in Olympia. Hall has written to Governor Bob Ferguson to ask if Aug. 20 can be designated “Do good day” for Washington state.
The duo is also inviting state representatives and senators to join for part of the walk, and have confirmation from one state representative that she will be joining them for a short portion.
Many people have heard about the idea and expressed enthusiasm, Hall said.
“We can’t help but think that other people are going to feel the same way,” Hall added.
Even if no one joins, the duo said it will be worth it. But, Hall said, they both agree that they believe you get back what you give back.
“We’re going to get out there and give out, and we have no doubt we’re going to get back,” he said.
FāVS News uses professional journalists and thoughtful commentary to explore faith, values and ethics. Support journalism like this by making a tax-deductible donation. FāVS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. © FāVS News. All rights reserved. Reproduction permitted only to authorized media partners or with written permission.
