Photo Caption: Daniel Reinke of Minnesota walks through East Peoria on his “Cross America” trek during the Year of Faith.

By: By Jennifer Willems

Some would say that walking 2,500 miles across America would be taxing enough, but Daniel Reinke is challenging himself and others to go the extra mile for their faith this summer.

For every million steps he walks as part of his effort to inspire Christians to take their faith seriously (see related story here) he has issued a challenge. These are meant to address issues he’s struggling with or things that have been brought to light through his pilgrimage.

“I just mention it and then I do what I can, offer it as a little challenge to people who may be struggling with the same thing,” he told The Catholic Post. “The first one was about having more faith in God.”

“IN GOD’S HANDS”
That milestone came on May 26, about three weeks after he started his journey in Seaside, Ore., and on his blog Reinke said he was finding his faith tested.

“There were many times that I got frustrated and even mad at God, thinking to myself, ‘Why won’t you just help me here?’ I have always been proven wrong as he has provided everything I would need or desire and then some,” he writes. “How have I grown on this trip so far? I have learned to embrace sacrifice because sacrifice brings me closer to God.”

Reinke got a chance to do that during a barren 70-mile leg of his trip through Idaho. He said that God provided offers of rides and opportunities to refill his water bottle from generous people.

“Throughout this trip I have heard people say time and time again, ‘I hope you grow closer to God and I hope this inspires people.’ Well, I want you to take this leap of faith with me,” he writes on his blog.
“I challenge you to put your life in his hands and see how he provides.”

“CHRISTIAN COMFORT ZONE”
Reinke took his 2 millionth step about a month later, as he walked from Nebraska to Iowa. This time he asked people to consider “getting out of your Christian comfort zone.”

“That’s talking to people who aren’t Christian or aren’t Catholic or aren’t members of your family and truly being Christian — talking to people you normally wouldn’t be comfortable talking to,” he told The Post.

On his blog, Reinke expressed amazement at the people who had come out of their own “comfort zones” to help someone who “smells from about 30 feet away and looks dirty from head to toe.”

“But taking action to come out of their ‘Christian comfort zone’ has had such an affect on me,” he writes. “So I challenge you to grow in this area along with me — maybe not always speaking but in our actions as well. Let’s get out of our ‘Christian comfort zone’ and truly start striving to act as Christ did!”

ACCEPTING GOD’S PLAN
As he logged 3 million steps, Reinke looked at his plan versus God’s plan for him.

“When starting this trip I really had no idea what to expect, but I originally planned to walk every, or close to every, step of every mile,” he writes. “God had another plan of his own.”

Accepting a ride one day, Reinke only intended to go five miles. He ended up going 20 miles and had a wonderful conversation with the person who picked him up.

“As we parted ways, it was like I got punched in the head,” he shared. “God was saying, ‘This is not just about your plan for the day.’ This was made crystal clear to me.

“Throughout this trip I am trying to learn how to grow along with God’s plan and not mine,” Reinke continued. “I try to wake up each day and have minimal plans, and just see where God takes me. It is those days that are so fascinating to see how I have been blessed.”

He asked for prayers as he challenged himself “to go along with God’s plan and try to be an instrument for him.”

“I also challenge you to just contemplate what your plan is for today, this week, your life, and then contemplate and pray for what God’s plan is for you,” he said.

Reinke is nearing another milestone — 4 million steps. To find out what the next challenge is, follow him on his blog.