Walking By Faith: Traveling Around The United States By Foot

It all started with a story. Prayer Circles by Mark Batterson. He never even finished the book before he was ready for a challenge. Something that even he, himself, thought was a little crazy. He was set to walk all the way around the perimeter of the United States.

Randy Montgomery wasn't dissatisfied from life completely. He'd been a manager at a cement plant and a logging trucker for many years. But at the age of 62 he found himself feeling like there had to be something more to life. He has two grown sons, but he found himself looking at each day as a day to get through another day of work. He was focused on what he would do after work, what he would do for the weekend, always looking ahead, never present in the moment.

A friend noticed his struggle and suggested a book. Something Montgomery didn't take too seriously at first. He hadn't picked up a book in almost 40 years. Something pulled at him to pick up the book and so he did. The story of Jericho and how the walls miraculously tumbled down as the people marched around the city in prayer was what sat in the pages of the book. Followed by how a pastor who walked a circle in Washington D.C.found miracles happening.

Hoping for a miracle is only part of the reason Montgomery decided to embark on his journey. He decided that it was time for people in the country to reconnect with each other. To stop the hate, the upheaval and the chaos. He wanted to walk one giant prayer circle around the country hoping to find a miracle.

"I've learned on the walk to talk with God everyday," Montgomery said. "I've learned about living in the present, in the moment and not getting too far ahead."

He has somewhat plotted his course, but he doesn't have set dates for a destination. He's quit literally walking by faith, knowing that he will be where he's meant to be. Once he decided to take the over 14,000 mile journey nothing could change his mind. He felt that God chose him to make this walk. He sacrificed his home and his dog and the security of his family to take the journey. Montgomery explained that when he hit the 1,000 mile mark on his walk that people started to take notice. He has in some ways experienced many small miracles.

"I've walked around 1,700 miles so far and I haven't had one blister carrying a 75-pound bag," Montgomery said.

He has been keeping track of his journey on Facebook. Snapping several photos on the way. He stopped in Havre and visited the underground and had several people comment about how they never knew it was there. He explained that walking the countryside you kind of start to notice the small things that you might not notice hurrying from one place to another. He just celebrated is 63rd birthday on his journey.

He left from Mount Shasta on July 1, hitching a ride to the coast and trekking up Highway 101 along the coast. He said that he enjoyed camping out on the beach a few nights. He's solely relying on others and donations from others to get him through the journey. His website, circlemakerrandymontgomery.com, collects donations and people can purchase t-shirts to help him make the trip. He has also had people give him cash and give him a place to stay along the way. One thing Montgomery said he realized is that God always comes through, but almost always in the last minute.

"He wants to know you're really committed," Montgomery said. "Nothing is going to stop me from this five year walk."

He said that one of the biggest challenges in the journey was the very first few miles. He had severe pain in the hip. He had to unload some of the many items in his backpack as he found the weight was too much to carry. He explained that it was a moment of agony, where he really sat in prayer and talked to God about his journey.

"The greatest healer of all is God," Montgomery said. "I walked 27 miles that day and 25 miles the next day."

Locals talked Montgomery into taking a train ride to surpass the Williston area. He hopped on a train from the Glasgow Train Depot on Friday, Dec. 19 and landed in Minot that evening. He posted last that he was waiting in Minot, North Dakota for mail before embarking further east along the state.

As he marks his path on a map, he's also keeping a journal about his journey. A list of names in his book of people he meets along the way. He's in prayer much of the walk and just hopes that when he finishes his journey, he will be able to see a miracle.

Montgomery got to meet Santa Claus (Jim Jensen) during his time in Glasgow. He also visited with various people around town and told them about his message of connection and hope for a future.