29th January 2021

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. 

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself.

And the fact that I think I am following your will

does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe the desire to please You does in fact please You

and I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road

Although I may know nothing about it.

I find these words of Thomas Merton a great comfort to me at this time when all my sign posts which help to verify my Christian existence have almost disappeared. Pre pandemic, I tried to live out my faith through hospitality at home and community involvement both in church and village. Some of this can continue through telephone and virtual communication.

Watching Julia Bradbury’s walk across Dartmoor around Haytor and beyond, familiar territory for us, but it reminded me of how easy it is to wander off across the moor if the paths and signposts are not followed.

Perhaps this is a time of pruning for us as individuals and as a church, to ask ourselves what is our faith about. With familiar patterns gone, the words of Jesus, act as a clear sign post to our pathway through this desolate land.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your, all your mind and all your strength and your neighbour as yourself.     

Elizabeth Webb