Story by Zoe Sinclair
Photos by Allison Helms
Sounds of rushing feet, moving tables and shouted orders swarmed the normally quiet chapel as smells of chickpeas, dumplings and vegan curry filled the air. On the brink of panic, the hosts scrambled to prepare for their long-awaited special guests.
In October, 19 Theravada monks began their 2,300-mile Walk for Peace from Huong Dao Vipassanā Bhāvanā Center in Fort Worth, Texas. They arrived at their final destination in the nation’s capital Feb.10, completing their mission to raise awareness of peace and kindness across the country, promoting national healing and unity.
Along the way, thousands of people crowded roadsides and attended public events to share in the monks’ journey, while millions followed online. But beyond the crowds and the online support were the invisible hands that came together to offer lodging, meals, security and donations.
As the monks stopped in Raleigh on Jan. 24, hundreds of volunteers, event planners and security staff of all cultures and backgrounds worked together to prepare for their arrival at the Greg Poole Jr. All Faiths Chapel at Dix Park. All hands were on deck as they moved with urgency and care, ensuring a safe space where the monks could rest and replenish their bodies with home-cooked dishes.
Among those offering support was the Church of the Nativity, which, along with other local churches, signed up to provide meals for the monks upon their arrival at the chapel.
Often referred to by its members as the “Church of the Activity” due to its long-standing commitment to service, community empowerment and social action, the church’s contributions to support the monks come as no surprise.
“We have forgotten how to be kind,” Gail Till, a member of the Nativity church and facilitator of the lunch, said. “I think people are just thirsty to be kind, and so anything that furthers that goal, we are in big support of.”
Stand Up and Speak Out, one of the church’s internal groups, meets once a month to discuss pressing global issues and determine ways to help. The group participates in protests advocating for immigrants, supports food drives and works hard to uplift the communities around them. Several Stand Up and Speak Out group members signed up to prepare food and assist with serving the monks’ meal.
“We started Stand Up and Speak out because we believe in our baptismal covenant that we promise to respect the dignity of every human being,” Becky Showalter, a member of the group, said. “And we felt like we saw in the world that we’re not doing that, and that part of being a church is to stand up for all people as children of God.”
At a time of political tension and division in the United States, the viral Walk for Peace has reminded tens of thousands of people nationwide about the power of mutual understanding and goodwill in creating a better world. For some, the walk even ignited a drive to make a difference and advocate for what they believe in.
“We aren’t really doing this for ourselves,” said Richard Powell, a member of the Stand Up and Speak Out group. “We’re doing this for our sons, and more importantly, for our six grandchildren, because we’re trying to help make a better world that they are going to grow up in.”
For others, the days of preparation carried meaning beyond advocacy. Spiritual connection and the value of service grounded communities in their decision to provide food and support the Walk for Peace.
“It’s like a dream came true for me today,” said Punprabhashi Vidanapathirana, a volunteer from a Buddhist temple who was helping to serve food. “It is the highest honor to be able to offer anything to monks.”
Throughout the day, community organizers and event staff spent hours discussing key, intricate details that could easily be overlooked without a front-row seat. Each choice mattered. They coordinated everything from which entrance the monks would use to how the tables should be configured and even where each dish should be placed to best serve them.
“It’s a dynamic situation where things are changing on the fly, so it’s challenging to figure out how we pivot and respond,” Kate Pierce, the executive director of Dix Park, said. “My role is to support the Walk for Peace staff and support my staff so that they can help crowd control and keep people safe.”
When the monks finally arrived for lunch, the room went silent. The air became tight, and the energy shifted. Children stopped playing, and the elderly no longer sat. Without saying anything, the monks, by their mere presence, said everything.
Standing as still as possible, everyone held their breath, scared to make a noise that could ruin this sacred, otherworldly moment.
People bowed their heads in prayer as the monks walked by, gracing them with their presence. After all 19 men received their food, the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the lead monk, invited everyone to pray with them and share their first and only meal of the day.
While the monks rested and ate, strangers exchanged brief smiles and eagerly made conversation with one another, enjoying the fruits of their labor and sharing a sense of community.
By the afternoon, tables were cleared, and thousands of people joined the monks as they marched from the chapel to the N.C. Capitol building. The journey, taking full form, yet again.
The group at All Faiths Chapel on that cold Saturday afternoon was just one of the community efforts nationwide whose support helped make the monks’ journey possible. As the monks finished their final stretch this week, they carried with them the labor of countless unseen hands across the country who not only helped them spread their mission of peace but also found inspiration in it themselves.
“I am excited and inspired by what the monks are doing,” Powell said. “I mean, the weather’s pretty awful out there, and they are teaching us perseverance. They’re teaching us that something bigger than ourselves is worth fighting for, and that gives me hope.”
Zoe Sinclair is a senior from Durham, N.C., majoring in journalism and political science with a minor in public policy. Zoe has experience in print and broadcast journalism, photojournalism, feature and opinion writing, scientific reporting, corporate communications, and social media. She hopes to pursue a career in news reporting or investigative, political or feature journalism.
Allison Helms is a senior from Charlotte, N.C., majoring in media and journalism. Allison has experience in photojournalism, video editing and marketing. She hopes to pursue a career in the multimedia journalism field following graduation.
