Have you ever travelled along an unfamiliar road and missed the sign telling you which direction to take? We recently spent a few days in Northumberland. Our host at the B&B we were staying in suggested a walk to a place called Cateran hole where there is a small opening in the ground with steps, carved by people in the past leading down to a small underground cave with graffiti dating bake to the 18th century. Her instructions were clear and I could see the pathway on our map, even with a spot marked Cateran hole.
So off we set, the morning was somewhat overcast and windy up on the moorland but we were undaunted. The path turned to the left just as expected and led up to a small hill, but no obvious sign to Cateran hole. I was beginning to think we had missed the turn off when suddenly my foot rested on a small boulder set into the ground with the letters <-CH carved into it.
After a few minutes walking along a narrow pathway through the heather we were rewarded with a grassy clearing, some stone steps and a dark narrow slit in the rocks underground. No big signs, no ticket kiosk, no car park nearby.
Rev Gill Newton, the previous Methodist president, had “hidden treasures” as her theme for the year. Here, on the moorland of Northumberland, was some amazing hidden treasure.
Our host, a local lady, was able to give us directions to the treasure. That small stone with simple instructions led us to our final destination, and we were not disappointed.
In our faith do we follow the directions given us? Do we sometimes miss the small signs? What hidden treasure is waiting for us to discover if we follow the directions given us?
Prayer: Almighty God, we thank you for the beauty of the world we live in. We thank you that there is so much for us still to discover. We thank you that if we follow your directions, you will lead us to beauty and treasure beyond our imaginings. Forgive us when we miss the turning, and help us to get back on track on our journey with you. AMEN