Gentle Creatures Guide Us Along The Way!!

At the end of the last post we talked about seeing some “creatures” that would remain with us throughout our journey and beyond and went on to tell you they were “Inukshuks!”   Well, that’s going to take some explaining and I want you to bear with me because the story is not simple.  Inukshuk – pronounced … “eh…nook…shook”  … is from the Inuit language and, roughly translated means “in the form of a human.”  These little (but sometimes very large) statues were built by nomadic people as they traveled the desolate, often harsh areas throughout the Arctic, the Yukon Territories of Canada and, eventually, on down into the lands surrounding the Great Lakes.    They were a tool for survival, built by the Inuits as “signposts,” as way of signifying the presence of water or food, or simply to let us know we are proceeding in the right direction. These unique statues are built from a number of stones – but – each one stands alone, supported by those below and those above.  Consequently, it becomes clear that no piece is more important than another and that the strength of the figure lies in it’s unity – it’s meaning ‘as a whole.’  I could go on and on with the symbolism of this fantastic creation but I think you already get the message.  The Inukshuk is a perfect metaphor for us as humans.  Each of us – like the stones in the statue – has significance and great importance.  But, like them, the “whole” we create is even more significant.   I know some of you have only recently joined us on our journey so, if you weren’t around when I was talking about the “Taize” community in France, bear with me.  If you were with us, you will recall that we expressed our support for the message taught by Brother Roger, founder of the community, and his belief that the ways in which we are ‘alike’ are much more important than the ways in which we are different.  We, as a whole, are important, …. critical, … no matter where you are from, or what your station in life might be.  This, it seems, is also the lesson of the Inukshuk.  

We first encountered these curious beings as we began to turn Eastward at the top of Lake Superior.  They remained with us – regularly appearing along the highway – all the way back down to the Southern end of Lake Michigan!!!   Now, imagine our surprise when, after first meeting them, we began to see Inukshuks in remote, often desolate spots throughout many parts of the United States and Canada.  (In fact, I think we even saw one in Mexico!!!)  One spot we found along the highway between Skagway, Alaska and White Horse in the Yukon Territory was absolutely mind boggling.  The number of statues had to be in the thousands – if not tens of thousands.  We have a video of that site and I'll try to add it to a later post.  I suppose the main point of this whole discussion is that we were traveling through some of the remotest territory imaginable - at least the wildest any of us had ever encountered.  As we traveled - three SC Travelers who, while not necessarily "old" or "elderly," were beginning to hear the phrase "senior citizens" a whole lot more than we wanted to - perhaps should have been apprehensive ... but, y'know what ... somehow we came to understand that these little guys were, indeed, on the job.  And - that, while they were, we didn't have anything to fret about.  Yeah, I know it sounds strange - but, if so, you probably haven't been in the company of Inukshuks.  Another thing you should probably know ... when we returned home, we brought Inukshuk kits to some of the kids in our youth-group.  And, guess what ....  They have remained safe ever since!!!!  Oh well,  our posts will begin to broaden up over the next couple of days and it won't be long before we begin to think of turning South toward the U.S.  Come on back to help us make that leg of the journey!!!  See ya.