BANGOR, Maine – “Howdy sir!, Where are you hauling that big cross off to?” I rhetorically called out to a man walking down Maine highway 1A with a full sized Jesus cross slung over his shoulder.
“To Mexico!” he responded, as he momentarily halted his hike to shake my hand.
To Mexico. Why is it a given that anybody walking down the highway with a cross over their shoulder is not in it for any distance short of an entire continent?
————–
While flying down highway 1A in my sleek little Subaru, I spotted a large cross looming on the horizon.
This is ordinary in America, a land that is fertile ground for sprouting large crosses as readily as weeds in a garden. But this cross was moving. Yes, it even appeared to be on wheels. And a man with a crown of thorns disguised as a bandanna toiled beneath it as he labored down the road with a backpack laden companion at his side.
Vrooom. I blew by the slowly moving cross-men at highway speed. As I watched them fade away into the distance through my rear view mirror, a guilty tinge stabbed me in the gut: I had questions, lots of questions, about why a couple of grown men would be dragging a humongous cross down the side of highway 1A in the middle of Maine. I knew that they must have been on a long journey, as nobody carries a full sized Jesus cross with them on their way to the corner store in search of a six pack: no, these men were obviously on a mission.
And I needed to find out what it was.
A sense of journalistic duty soon took hold, and I swung around the little Subaru like a vengeful madman and returned to interrogate the mobile cross bearers.
I pulled over near them without being noticed, and made my approach from behind.
Cross Walk from Maine to Mexico
“Howdy, sir!” I yelled out and then shook the hand of a cross bearer who seemed surprised at my brisk arrival.
I introduced myself as a journalist, which sort of half way explained how I managed to drop down out of the sky from seeming nowhere. This introduction lays out a journalist’s intentions perfectly: everyone knows that journalists collect stories, and to get a story you have to ask questions, so the man laid down his large cross and got right down to answering mine.
His name was Tom Helling, a refurbished sinner, and his companion was John C. Prosser, a legally blind traveling musician. They met up on a Greyhound bus going from Milwaukee to Bangor. Helling was provisioned with $20, an 8 foot high Jesus cross, and a mission: to walk from Maine to Mexico bearing the cross over his shoulder. Upon noticing that Helling’s faith so obviously trumped his preparation, Prosser, an experienced man of the road, felt compelled to lend his expertise to the expedition.
“He didn’t even have a sleeping bag, you should have seen him all curled up on the ground last night,” Prosser described Helling’s condition on their previous night of camping in the bush. “So today I took him to Walmart to get him a sleeping bag.”
Helling then laughed a big hearty sort of laugh and agreed that it was Prosser’s job to save his butt. In this way, the two men were thrown together by the circumstantial run of destiny, chance, and fate that comes easily to travelers on odd journeys in odd lands.
The story runs as such:
Helling took a flight from his home in Tucson, Arizona to Milwaukee, where he built the cross and etched out the rough logistics of his expedition.
His planning did not seem to get beyond building the cross and picking starting and ending points though, as Helling’s traveling gear was fearfully scarce: he only had a small bundle tied around the bottom of the cross. I cannot imagine that much besides an old t-shirt, a scrap pair of pants, and a big load of faith could have fit inside of it.
Figuring that Maine was just about as far away from Mexico as you could get, Helling boarded a Greyhound bus for Bangor. On this ride, a big swing of fate intervened, as one of his fellow passengers was John Prosser, a wandering half blind musician. Apparently, the two men struck up a friendship on the long bus trip, and Prosser, knowing the Helling did not have any provisions for his journey other than faith, invited him out for a bite to eat. It was over this meal that the duo decided to walk down to Mexico paired.
From my initial meeting with the two pedestrian wanderers, their individual roles in the expedition were obvious: Helling was the faith packed inspiration, the man with the inertia, the idea, and Prosser was the nuts and bolts, the man who took Helling’s inertia and made it a reality.
I looked around at the forests on both sides of the highway, the moist grass, the big cloudy blue sky, and mentally pinpointed out our current location on a cerebral map. We certainly were a long way from Mexico. Any man starting down this long road must have some kind of story.
So I asked Helling for his story, how he came to be walking down a highway in Maine with a huge cross over his shoulder. He laughed heartily, and jumped into a tale of being a hard drinking, drug taking sinner who was turned over to Christianity in a brash moment of clarity. He told me about meeting Larry Munguia, a.k.a the Pastor of the Down and Out, in a Tucson half way house seven years ago. Helling said that Larry told him that he should ask the following question every day:
“God, Jesus, if you are real then show me a sign.”
“So I tried it out,” Helling spoke with a big grin on his face, “I tried it out because I wanted to tell him that he was full of shit.”
Helling then went on to tell me about the night of his spiritual breakthrough. After an initial run in with Munguia’s S.O.B.E.R. Project, which is a progressive faith based addiction rehabilitation program, he was at the Bashful Bandit motorcycle bar in Tucson. It was the night before he was to go into the hospital for an MRI on a tumor on his hip. The tumor had potential to be malignant. He was scared.
Tom then told me how he stumbled into the parking lot of the bar, and felt as if he needed to make a telephone call.
“I had no idea who I was going to call,” Helling explained, “I just knew that I had to call somebody.”
He then lifted his cellphone up to his ear, and then felt compelled to look down to the pavement. There, straddled in between his feet, sat a little palm leaf crucifix.
It was the answer to his prayer.
God, Jesus, if you are real then show me a sign.
“I am positive that it was not there before,” Helling stated with absolute conviction. “I went from a Christian hatter to a believer in that moment.”
Seven years later, Helling finds himself walking down a highway in Maine with a huge cross slung over a shoulder with a half blind traveling musician. I stood on the side of the highway doing my interview as cars flew by right next to us. Some honked. Others waved. But all passerbys appeared interested in the man on the highway carrying the giant cross.
The large cross that Helling was carrying seemed to serve as a catalyst for conversation — as a way of inviting people to come and talk about spirituality, religion, and addiction recovery. To be blunt, if people saw Helling and Prosser walking down the side of the highway without the cross, they would probably either recoil from them in fear — for neither man possessed a very straight laced appearance — or pass by without finding any reason to become acquainted. The entire reason why I stopped driving and ran up to meet Helling and Prosser was because of the cross; without it, I would have just honked and waved to a couple of my brothers on the tramp. It was the cross that captured my attention.
I then looked down at the cross, the centering point of this expedition, and found the names of a score of people already written on it. I asked Helling where the names came from, and he answered that they were from the people that he met along the way. This was Helling’s first full day out on this long walk, and there was evidence that he had already told his story to at least a dozen curious strangers. He then asked me to sign my name, and I penned my mantra, “Walk Slow.”
Given the circumstances, I figured that Helling could use it a little more than I.
My inquires soon reach an affable sort of height, as we all stood on the Maine highway telling jokes and showing each other our tattoos. Helling turned around and lifted up his t-shirt to reveal a partially completed back piece of Jesus being crucified on a palm leaf crucifix. I found it an appropriate choice of tattoo, given Helling’s story.
“Jesus has got my back,” he joked.
It soon became clear that neither Helling nor Prosser were brow beaters proving their riotousness or bible thumpers looking for converts by completing this supreme test of endurance. They were just a couple of ordinary dudes with a couple of extraordinary tales celebrating God on the Open Road across the USA.
I then asked Helling if this arduous journey was in search of some sort of penance for his past misdeeds.
“Guilt and shame are barriers to Jesus,” he answered simply.
Helling’s cross bearing walk across the USA seems to be a way of reaching out to engage strangers in discussions about spirituality and the human propensity to overcome adversity. I then asked Helling what was the most important thing that he wish to communicate with people along the course of this walk.
Helling replied without hesitation, “That God loves you.”
He then added as an after thought, “You can’t do this,” indicating his walk from Maine to Mexico, “without God.”
This statement was good enough to wrap up my interview, and I shook hands with both Helling and Prosser, wished them a splendid journey, and then snapped off a few photographs before walking away down the road.
“Hey!,” John yelled in my wake.
I turned around.
“It’s called the Cross Walk!”
“You don’t say,” I responded with a chuckle.
Video of the Cross Walk
Read more about Tom Helling’s Cross Walk at his website, From Maine to Mexico
Vagabond Journey series on the Cross Walk
A Cross America: spiritually intoxicated ex-addict walks from Maine to Mexico
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Saw this man on Rt. 1 in Thomaston, ME around 4 pm on Tues, June 23. I didn’t stop to ask who or why. Thanks for taking the time to ask and to let the rest of us in on it.
I saw him going across the Wiscasset bridge in Maine just 10 min ago thank u for the story. Amazing!! I wish him the best of luck!
My husband saw and met this wonderful man. May God bless and protect him. May we all feel the same freedom of Spirit as he does.
My wife and family met Tom yesterday ( Sunday around 6pm) near Saco,ME still walkng south.
We shared with him food, water, and a little money for his walk of Faith. God Bless Him for his witness to the Lord. May he have safe travels and may God open up to him – favor with men as he travels on his Cross Walk of Faith.!
Thank you everyone for keeping us posted on the location of Tom Helling on his walk across the USA. It would be great to continue publishing updates of the location of the Cross Walk as it continues south.
Please contribute any further updates of sightings or conversations with Tom here as a comment.
I will try to get a hold of Tom in a couple weeks to do another interview.
Thank you,
Wade
friend of mine and i drove by him in biddeford earlier today. seemed to be going strong! now after reading this, wish i had stopped. hope he makes it all right!
Saw him walking past my house last night in Kennebunk. Wish I had known his story, at the time … I would have loved to talk to him.
Well, it looks like “Tom, The Cross Walker” lost his traveling companion, unfortunately. I saw him today on Hwy. U.S. 1, south of Wal-mart in Portsmouth, NH. at about 10:30am, (July 13, 2009) then later in the day when I was traveling that same road at about 2:30pm I saw him again in Hampton, NH. What a powerful witness to Jesus Christ this is! Glad I found your site under “cross walk”, but it wasn’t easy. Thank you for this great story. I’m sure many people will be adding comments to it. Keep up the good work, Wade! Maybe you (or one of your friends in the South) will be able to catch back up with him somewhere and do a “Part 2″ to this report? P.S. – Could you imagine not having a bathroom, creature comforts, money, rest, no availalble water or good, hot, nutritious food and so much more for that long?
Hello and thank you for responding to the story. I’m doing well and I am currently in Rowley,MA. heading down rt 1A towards Salem and then Boston. You can Email me at clistguy1@yahoo.com Thanks Wade for the great story,see ya soon.
I saw Tom in Rowley, MA yesterday. I heard about him on a recent trip to Maine. I’m really sorry that I didn’t invite him in. If you see him don’t make the same mistake I did!
He was seen in Ipswich, MA on 7-15. He was stopping in for a bite to eat at a local restaurant around Noon. However, he appeared to be alone. Wonder what happened to his friend.
never seen this man befor, but may the good lord bless him and his walk!!! god bless all!!!
Read the story in our local paper this morning. http://www.salemnews.com. Then heading home for lunch today, passed Tom Helling walking through our beautiful town of Ipswich, MA. Peace and blessings to him along his journey!
Stopped and talked with Tom today around 1:45 p.m. on Rt. 1A, just north of So. Hamilton. He reminded me of a man named Arthur who did something similiar many years ago. Tom has an amazing story and I felt blessed to meet him.
Met him today on 1A in Hamilton, was a blessing, happened to be my mother’s 60th Birthday, I thought it was great for her, I am always trying to have my parents find faith and I think this helped a bit! What happened to the other gentlemen he was traveling with, does anyone know?
Again God Bless Tom and Thank you! Tejada-Manning Family…we signed your cross & took pictures with you.
I saw Tom on Rt 1 in Rowley on Tues. the 15th….It was / is a blessing to witness him, he was not with his walking companion, but I’m sure he’s not alone. God bless him.
Saw Tom today (Friday, July 17th) in Malden, MA on Route 99 (Broadway) around 11:15 a.m. He just happened to be walking by my house when I was going out. My daughter, Jennifer, signed the cross and spoke with Tom for a few minutes and I stopped and wished him well and gave him a small donation. I remembered about someone once before going around the world with a cross, but did not know about Tom until today. What a beautiful reason for walking! God bless you Tom.
I met Tom today he was in Boston. Tom really challanged me today in the way im living. What a blessing it was to meet him when I got out of work.
Great to hear that he made it to Boston! I would love to meet up with him again to write a second part to this story.
Wade
Saw Tom early this afternoon on Rte. 1 in Wrentham. Spent about 10 minutes with him, and signed his cross. What a blessing…
I met our brother In Christ “Tom” on Jefferson blvd. in Warwick Rhode Island as I was driving home from work at 2:00 pm.I saw this man on the road bearing a cross and stopped to ask how long he had been on his trek.
We shared each others stories on our walk with Christ. It felt refreshing talking to a man who is truly sold out to Jesus! God was guiding him down the road to a motel for some much deserved rest. GOD Bless you Tom. Paul
Tom,
I’m in Statesville, NC. Not sure you’ll be traveling this way, but if you happen by, you have shelter, food, and a sleeping space waiting for you. I pray for comfort in your soul and peace in your mind. Robin flyingon2002@yahoo.com
Tom,
God Bless You, We miss you at S.O.B.E.R.
Be safe!
Thanks Tom for sitting down and chatting with me! Here is are the links to Part 1 & 2 of our interview whihc took place during your stop in Warwick,RI on July 21st! Good Luck on your journey friend!
-Jay
Part 1:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9y93n_man-carrying-giant-cross-to-mexico_lifestyle
Part 2:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9y9ev_cross-walk-talk-part-2-man-carrying_lifestyle
I saw this man on Route 1, south of Wakefield, RI. I was tempted to stop and talk to him, but decided against it. Kind of regret that decision, but if any readers south of me would like to pass along some kind words, I encourage you to do so if you have the chance.
I was traveling on Rt1 in Wakefield RI when I saw Tom near Charlestown so I turned around on the highway to drive back and talk to him.Great conversation!
I asked he he needed any water and he replied that a Pepsi would be good. I went to the local store and purchased a large bottle of Pepsi a couple of bottles of water two sandwiches an apple and two power bars and returned to Tom for some more conversation. It made my day!
I told Tom about a hotel where he could go that was not to expensive beacuse I was on my way to a Wake for my sisters father in-law.
Saturday I traveled down Rt1 all the way to Dunns four corners in Westerley RI to see if i could find him and give him some more food and $ but didnt find him.
Keep going Tom!
Rory
We saw Tom Today on Rte 1 South of Charlestown, RI….July 25, He looked like he is going the distance and we would have stopped if traffic had allowed. Good luck Tom, It is such a worthy accomplishment to do what others will not find the time or energy for. God Bless!!
This comment is from Karen, it was place on another page on the site, but it goes in better here.
Admin
I’m so happy to see this site but sorry that more people haven’t left comments. I had the blessing of meeting Tom as he passed Route 1 in Massachusetts a few miles from Patriot Place (Gilette Stadium). But here is a real hero! Someone who’s living out his faith in a courageous way, in a world that is often hostile to His message. THANKS TOM for setting an example for us all! May God bless you in your journey.
I hope this site will be updated to show your progress. Maybe God will lead others to post along the way.
Karen
Btw, the cross in this picture is clean white wood and when I signed it I could hardly find a space to scratch my name! You are touching many lives and giving us a visual reminder of the One who bore our sins on a tree.
Hi! We (myself and kids) stopped as we saw Tom walking along Route 1 in Old Lyme, CT. He was very friendly and happy to share his mission with us and we exchanged pictures. I pray that he reaches many souls for Christ and that God protects him on his journey.
My wife and met Tom in Old Saybrook, Ct. today at 3 PM.
He was walking past our barber shop on Rte. 1.
The Lord truly blessed us through Tom today.
Thank you Lord.
I passed by Tom today on Route 1 in Guilford. I turned the car around to say hello and show my support for his mission. It is icredible, really. He told me that he wants people to remember Jesus and the sacrifice he made. He certainly reminded me. I was feeling a bit grumpy before we had our chat and enlightened since.
Thanks for the reminder Tom to “Keep the Faith.”
Tom – If you read this, Good luck in your journey. I will follow your progress. All the best to you, and may God keep you in the palm of his hand.
Kathleen
Saw this man in Foxboro, MA on July 18th, and thought it was odd. Then saw him again today in Madison, CT! My wife found this story and thought he could use some water. Others in the deli I stopped at offered up a sandwich. I then drove to catch Tom on the side of the road to deliver some nourishment. He was very grateful and offered me a pen to sign his cross. I wished him well on his journey and he was on his way.
We were lucky enough to have met you in branford Ct on August 4th 2009 at the ice cream place. It was biancas 9th birthday and you made a impact on her and all of us. We wish you luck and success where ever you go. Keep us posted on your progress. God bless and stay strong.Thanks for your prayer.
Hi Tom, Don and I (Red Truck) just met you today in Fairfield CT and I have to say you have made quite an impression on me God bless you. Be safe my friend, Gene
Tom, Nice to meet you in Westport CT today. Your journey is inspiring. I wish you all the best. Will keep in touch and will send you the pics! God’s Best to you! –Lori
Hi, Tom, I met you on Rt. 1, Branford/Guilford, town-line, Aug.3rd. We had a wonderful chat about what The Lord has done for us. We prayed and off you went to your next encounter of The Christian kind. I’m praying that God’s Hedge of Protection surround you and don’t forget to put on The Holy Armour God has made available to each of His children. God Bless you!
Hi! I just saw him in Westport,CT today around 2:30-3:00. I couldn’t stop, but I was intrigued – especially since he was wearing a shirt with a Star of David and carrying a cross. What a great article! Having been a drug counselor many years ago I was moved by his motivation and determination. I hope you find whatever you are seeking Tom!
I know Tom from high school. Way to go Tom. I’m proud of you!!!
We met Tom at Mcdonalds on faitfield ave, bridgeport,conn. Asked him to sit with us. enjoyed trading stories as to how we came to the Lord. Took him to a Higher Ground meeting in fairfield Thursday Aug. 6. It was great. He met several new friends. We will be watching your progress Tom WE pray for you and Know that the Lord walks with you.
Just talked with him and gave him some ice water..still going strong in 90 degree heat
Just met Tom today. He is almost to New York, I live in Riverside CT. I was driving by and saw him and thought to myself- Who is this? so I decided to stop and say hello. I am so happy I did, what a wonderful person. I wish I had money on me to help him out, I didnt, so I bought him some water and a candy bar with my credit card. Boy did he look hot. It has been wonderful to get to know his story. He is an inspiration to us all. You will be in my prayers Tom, I hope you go all the way.
Hi Tom, I was amazed to see you walking thru Greenwich with your cross yesterday. I really believe you were sent by God to wake up the wealthy (and others) As you probably know there was a tornado type storm in the area two nights before. Your walking was timely. Many people were scarred – I hope they saw you! Keep up the good walking and may God bless you and take care of all your needs. Blessings, Sam
We saw him on August 11, around 10:30PM on Rt 1, in Rye, NY.
We thought we were seeing things…but tonight I thought I should google and check and sure enough we weren’t seeing things at all!
Tom is a good man, a friend of the family. We grew up together in Iowa. He and my brothers are good friends. He spoke with my oldest brother Jim a week or so ago by phone. He said he was doing well. I wish him nothing but the best!! Safe journey Tom!! You’re in my prayers. I’m proud of you!! God bless. Joan
Thank you to everyone out there helping this wonderful messenger. yes, my husband stopprd to talk with him in maine, and I was hoping as all you are that others would also help, get inspired, and continue keeping him in our prayers. what a miracle none of us know each other, yet we’re united in a common prayer for tom helling
Just saw these guys pass by my window near Princeton, NJ…God Bless!
I saw these 2 on Route 1 in South Brunswick, NJ at 11:15am today (Aug. 21).
I haven’t seen him wish I had but a friend saw him on Olden Ave in Ewing, NJ!
I saw Tom on Friday on Rt 1 south in New Brunswick NJ and also in Plainsoboro later that evening. God Bless him on his journey.
I heard about Tom’s travels through friends in town. I grew up with Tom and my brother Mark and I spent most of our high school days with him. He was always a gentle giant and now it seems he has become a gentle giant in his heart. Tom keep us posted on your travels and before you make it to Mexico I will come and visit you.