Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church

I had a pleasant surprise in my inbox this morning. Mary Parsley, who is Calton Marshall's sister, received a copy of the sermon I wrote back in March about carrying our crosses. I had used Calton's journey in the introduction to the sermon. She shared a new article about Calton's walk across the United States. I'll share it with you!

Calton Marshall has been walking for twelve weeks.

Hammond Star

Joan Davis

Hammond, Louisiana
    A 58-year-old retired car salesman who lives in Quincy, Fla., Marshall
strolled through Ponchatoula and Hammond this week, carrying a cross along
with his "Christian dog" named Bugsy. He started walking in Tallahassee,
Fla., to fulfill a mission.
    He plans to walk from Tallahassee to Houston and would like to continue
walking to California, pending the heat.
    He is reminding others that "the Lord will come again."
    "The Lord has been good to me," Marshall said.
    "I was shot in the leg with a 12 gauge, had polio when I was younger,
survived alcohol and drug addictions, and now I have diabetes. I'm still
here, so I have a lot to be thankful for."
    Marshall said he once lived in Utah around a Mormon community were the
youth were required to perform a two-year mission, and he liked the idea.
    "It's just a way to give back to the Lord," he said.
    People often pull up aside him, concerned about his dog, he said. He
said he tries to reassure them the dog is well cared for, but he understands
people are just trying to do the right thing.
    Tuesday evening he arrived in Ponchatoula by way of state Hwy. 22.
    He slept at the First Presbyterian Church.
    He said he normally approaches a church along the way near nightfall and
will ask to roll out his cot on the front porch for the night.
    Wednesday he passed through Hammond and turned west toward Houston on US
190, with no idea where he would sleep next.
    His left leg was swollen due to the excessive walking and the
40-year-old gunshot wound.
    "I usually travel 12 to 15 miles per day," he said.
    "Sometimes I take a day off because of my leg. But not for too long,"
Marshall said.
    He pulls a two-wheeled cart that holds all his possessions, including
his white cross.
    The 120-pound cart was full to the top, wrapped with cords to keep items
stable.
    Inside he carried water, canned food, dog food, a cot, a sleeping bag, a
butane bottle to cook food, pots and pans, and some clothes. After pulling
the cart through the Florida Panhandle¹s rolling hills, Marshall said he has
loss 50 pounds.
    "People are always offering me food and cash," Marshall said.
    "I'm not poor. I appreciate it, but I am doing this for the Lord."