Most pedestrians who end up stranded along the stretch of Highway 101 between Eureka and Arcata stick their thumbs out and attempt to hitch a ride either at the entrance or soon after the first semi roars by the narrow shoulder. Not Tom Tom Whitney 'fishes' for converts to Christianity along Route 101. And they do honk. An intermittent chorus. Some long, some short, some staccato.
Some cars almost disappear over the horizon before the drivers press down on their horns.
Tom is practicing a form of silent witnessing with his sign. He is telling others about Jesus, sharing faith. Tom began walking locally three months ago when one Sunday he could not get a ride to church. He is walking to the Plaza where he attends The Mountaintop Christian Bible Fellowship that holds its services at the Arcata Hotel. The church is in its fourth year and is a non-denominational, conservative, Biblical church.