Did you catch the video of me pouring ice water over my head this week? No.

At the risk of pouring cold water on a bandwagon that is already drenched in cold water, why would I choose not to participate in such an obviously compassionate, generous, and fun trend? And why would I choose to blog about choosing not to participate?

I’ve never been much for bandwagons. Bandwagons are fancy vehicles designed to showcase the band as they ride the parade route in their neighborhood. But they generally get poor gas mileage and are not good for getting through rough terrain.

Now, if I was the President of the ALS Association, I’d be pretty happy with the multi-million dollar boost in donations this summer.

I’ll have to pass on this bandwagon—and all the other bandwagons as well.

There’s a road less traveled, actually overgrown paths cutting through the deserts, jungles, mountains, and warzones, where people mostly live in invisible desperation.

There are no parades or bandwagons in these neighborhoods. Just anonymous people being neighborly, sharing a meal, or tea, and conversation. Connecting heart to heart. Caring for one another.

. . . thinking together about eternal truths.

I guess I’d just rather walk.