On Monday 18 March, Huub and Adelheid and I were guests at the regional tourist office Arnhem-Nijmegen . The region connects many of the major cities of the pioneer route we have in mind for the Walk of Wisdom . The director of the agency, Jurriaan de Mol, was therefore an important man for us in obtaining support from the region. 

Good news: a few words were enough to get full cooperation from the agency. Mr. de Mol and his collaborator Erwin Akkerman immediately saw the potential of the route for the region. They want to work together to get all the mayors of the pioneer route together in the Tempelhof of Huub and Adelheid. They also want to help get permission from the managers of the Streekpad Nijmegen to develop the Walk of Wisdom on this route.

Spiritual Vistas and Material Interests

What I find special about the cooperation of the agency is that spirituality and materialism come together here. The regional office would probably never work with us if they didn’t see the benefits for the region: bringing tourists/visitors to the region. We, for our part, will probably never get the appearance of a real pilgrimage route if it is not supported by the region. Now both interests are coming together.

I also liked to see that the gentlemen not only saw the material importance of the route, they also saw its meaningfulness. Through the values of sustainability and contemplation, the route stimulates a certain kind of activity and gives people opportunities to find or even add meaning for themselves and not just consume it.

For example, our thoughts immediately went to the possibility of e.g. artists and architects to make designs for contemplative art around the theme of the Walk of Wisdom. Future pilgrims would be able to vote for this. Sustainable pilgrimage or silence shelters can be created along the route and any individual or organisation with a story or message around the question ‘who are you in the bigger picture of the earth’ is welcome to make project proposals or realize them somewhere along the route with the support of the region and the foundation. 

The Walk of Wisdom is therefore not just another vulgar entertainment, but rather activates people to think about who they are in their deepest inner being and also invites them to engage with the wider environment. Not only does that sound nice, but it is! 

Pilgrim’s blessing

In mid-April, Huub, Adelheid and I will meet again with the regional office to prepare the meeting with the mayors and to further develop the plans. To be continued. 

Now I would like to say a contemporary Walk of Wisdom pilgrim blessing, but we don’t have one yet…