On our fourth day of walking, we left the city limits of Artesia behind and headed north through the small town of Lake Arthur. Along the way, we met lots of cows living their best lives in large fields, passed cotton farms, and walked beneath the big, beautiful open sky. Tonight, we’re grateful to be spending the night with wonderful friends at a ranchette in Dexter, New Mexico.
Our fourteen miles today gave us plenty of time to reflect on last night’s dinner with community members in Artesia. They hosted us with such love and kindness—the way humans do that for one another, even with folks they’ve never met before, is humbling and heartening.
At the community dinner, we also had a chance to dig into the purpose of our pilgrimage: the deep hunger for responsible care for our common home. People offered their own perspectives based on their lived experiences. A person whose career had been in water. An educator. A rancher and wrangler. All were local people personally impacted by the oil and gas industry.
A few moments stand out:
“Some people say we don’t have to worry about the health effects of air pollution because the wind usually blows the other way.”
“The legislators in this area will not listen to my concerns. We are counting on other representatives in the state to care about what’s happening here.”
On produced water (fracking wastewater): “If it were not related to oil and gas, it would be considered hazardous waste.”
Pointing out that research on produced water was inadequate: “Once it is released into the environment, it cannot be undone.”
These conversations in Artesia reminded us why we walk. Behind every statistic about environmental impact are real people—neighbors, workers, families—living with the daily consequences of extractive industries. Their stories reveal both the challenges they face and the courage it takes to speak up when powerful interests are at stake. As we continue our pilgrimage, we carry their voices with us, grateful for their willingness to share their truth and hopeful that their concerns will find ears willing to listen. The journey ahead is long, but moments like these fuel our commitment to walking for a future where all communities can thrive in a healthy environment.
