Nigel Reid

MORRISTOWN, TENN. — Nigel Reid’s feet moved ever so swiftly, as he carried the weight of a 200-pound cross.

“That cross is a symbol,” said Reid.

The 56-year-old carried the wooden cross from his apartment on Oakwood Circle to Carson-Newman University. That’s about a 10 mile hike.

“I might have done some things in my past, but God forgave me, and that’s what this cross means to me,” said Reid.

Reid walked to raise awareness for the Wounded Warriors Project, a national organization that seeks to help injured service members. That’s something Reid said is a selfless act of kindness.

“It’s really unthinkable,” said Reid. “These men and women are going to die for you and me; they don’t even know me,” said Reid.

Reid asked those who approached him on his journey to donate $3 per mile he walked. Although he doesn’t know them personally, Reid was on a mission to support the men and women in uniform. He said that’s what Jesus would want him to do.

“I didn’t know Christ,” said Reid. “He died over 3,000 years ago, but these men and women are dying for us today,” he continued.

Reid doesn’t compare himself to Jesus but said he always tries to do the right thing, even if it means temporarily suffering for someone else.

“I just want to let the men and women who died for our country and fought for our country know that I love them, and I thank God for all of them because they died for our freedom and your freedom,” said Rev. Reid.

Reid is no stranger to the pain. He’s bore the load of that cross for the past four years on Holy Saturday.

“Without God, there is nothing because God is our ultimate strength and our source and our courage,” said Reid.

Reid said he’s not carrying the cross for attention but as a means of paying it forward for the next service member.

“All I ever want is for people to not only thank me but thank the veterans,” said Reid.

Source: WLVT