Pilgrim on spiritual journey takes a break beside US 441

    It’s not everyday that you hear about a man who left everything behind. Thomas Gibson, 51, of Lake Toxaway, N.C., did just that, and he has been walking since he left his hometown nearly two years ago.
    During that span, locals and students alike have spotted him along several highways, most notably along US 441, where he has been camping out at Rock Mill Baptist Church with his two horses.
    Gibson, at first glance, may come across as something from an old western, not quite the cowboy, but someone from before the time of cars and modern civilization. He does after all, travel with two horses, the most noticeable and memorable image that causes amusement and query, at this somewhat odd affair.
    Gibson is shy and reserved and he has an air of humility about him. He is a minimalist, travels light and is a true vagabond continuously trekking the road with neither a true destination or one might argue, a lack of absolute purpose. He stops when he needs to, settles in for as few as a couple of days to about several weeks at a time depending on the weather and the condition of his horses.
    The things he carries defines his life: a Bible, for strength and inspiration, a few canned goods, his tent and his companion of two horses named Star and Malley.
    “I don’t need much, and I didn’t grow up with a lot,” Gibson said. “I don’t really miss a lot of the other things.”
    Gibson grew up a religious man and spent most of his time in his hometown living a pretty simple existence. He had many great deal of troubles during his early years but always went to a small country church which he regularly attended to ease his troubles. He has no wife or children to speak of.  He took care of his mother until she passed away in 2002.
    “I just wake up and ask the Lord and hope that today is good,” Gibson said. “He had taken care of me ever since.”
    His pilgrimage neither starts nor ends anywhere but his inspiration remains the same. Shortly after his mother passed, he decided to put his purpose in the Lord’s hands and has been traveling ever since.
    “I read the scripture and that’s the Lord talking to me,” Gibson said. “People would learn more about religion outside the congregation. This is how the Lord is doing his work in me.”
    Gibson  however, does not preach like many would think. Gibson maintains that he is on a personal quest.
    “I’m not educated and I can’t read the Scripture like the preacher can,” Gibson said. “The Lord works in mysterious ways, and I won’t preach to anyone who doesn’t care. This is a quest He inspired me to go on.”
    Gibson survives mostly on kind donations from strangers and churches. They give him canned foods, horse feed, fruits for the horses and other supplies he might need. He sometimes sees these strangers again. But most times, he never sees them again.
   

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 16 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry