Preaching & Walking

I enjoyed this story, included in J. John's weekly e-news last Friday:

One day, St Francis of Assisi invited a young monk to join him on a trip to a local village to preach. The young novice, delighted to be singled out to be Francis’ companion, accepted with enthusiasm. They walked through the main streets, turned down many of the alleys, made their way into the suburbs and then returned to the monastery. As they returned, the young novice monk reminded Francis of the original intention: ‘You have forgotten, Father, that we went to the town to preach.’

‘My son,’ Francis replied, ‘we have preached. We were preaching while we were walking. We have been seen by so many, our behaviour has been closely watched; it was thus that we preached our morning sermon. It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach, unless we preach everywhere as we walk."