Waymarkers

 

This morning in adult Sunday school, we had a wonderful presentation on pilgrimage. Our teacher, a good friend with deep spiritual intuition, recently returned from a pilgrimage in the Holy Land. We will be privy to more personal and specific content next week, but today was an introduction to pilgrimage in general - what it is, how to approach it, what one might hope to accomplish, and how it contrasts with tourism, for example. The talk closed with the notion of waymarkers. I had never heard this term, but it immediately connected. Well-known pilgrim paths are dotted with waymarkers like the left photo, which is on St. Michael's Way in Cornwall, UK.  They point the way, as one might expect. Some are highly visible, as this one; others are harder to locate and require some searching.

With this new concept on my mind, I headed out with a group on a trail ride this afternoon. Lo and behold, our trails have waymarkers! They are red, blue, or purple, and they indicate the equestrian trails in the city park where we ride.  If you were new to our trails, they would show where it is safe to ride horses. You will not be led into the White river, over a cliff, into dangerous footing where a horse might be injured, or into the deep woods where you could get lost as long as you follow the waymarkers. I realize there have been waymarkers all along my spiritual journey.

Beloved Provider God, thank you for the waymarkers. While I haven't always been aware, you have led me to where I am today.  Some waymarkers are people who hold the Christlight for me when I am blinded by pain, trauma, and loss. Some are sacramental. Some come by way of the pen or the paintbrush or the musical instrument when I could use inspiration. Some are angels in animal bodies, sent to teach me a wisdom much more elemental than I can reach by thinking.

I know they are near when my eyes tear up or I am overwhelmed by the majesty of Your creation. Keep me mindful that waymarkers are all around me if I will but pay attention. Help me to seek you out and to recognize when you are leading me in a way I had not been planning to go.

Amen