The Minister writes… (from our February 2022 newsletter)
Dear friends,
I have just returned from a three-day retreat provided by the London and Southeast Districts for their probationers and ‘early years,’ (those still in their first five years of ministry). We didn’t have one last year because of Covid so I had been very much looking forward to this one, especially as it will be the last of its kind for which I qualify. It was held at Yarnfield Park Conference Centre in Stone, Staffordshire and the theme was ‘Wellbeing.’
Tuesday afternoon we had a few hours’ free time and, in keeping with the theme, I decided to resist answering work emails and go for a walk instead. Google maps showed me some NT land at nearby ‘Downs Banks’ and promised me a great view if I was willing to climb to Millennium Point: a local trig point and the highest place for miles around.
The car park was at the bottom of a valley and from that low angle the two wooded hills either side looked to be the same height. I read the board map and set off on what I thought was the correct trail. After a while I was concerned that the path didn’t seem to be climbing very steeply and, conscious of time, decided to leave it and make a more direct ascent. I managed to scramble up – although my lack of fitness had me gasping for breath when I finally got to the top of the ridge. Imagine, then, my disappointment when I couldn’t find Millennium Point anywhere and my sinking realisation as I looked across the narrow valley and discovered that I had climbed the lesser of the two hills!
Had I had more time and better knees, I would have descended and climbed the opposite hill but there was no way I could manage that. The view I did have was definitely not spectacular so I began a rather disheartened trek back to the car park, this time keeping to the trail and discovering in so doing that, had I only stuck to it in the first place, I would have come to a point where the path forked and it would have been clear which branch to have taken to reach Millennium Point. Ah, such are the penalties of impatience and the advantage of hindsight! I was tired and aching and I was frustrated with myself. But just then the elusive sun came out and the shallow stream in the valley sparkled and wound back and forth on itself, enticing me to cross it by dint of the flat rocks and tree branches conveniently left in place, which I did (without falling in!). I realised in that moment that, actually, I had had a lovely walk – it just hadn’t been the one I’d planned.
Life and faith are often like that, aren’t they? We set out on what we think is the right path only to find that we’re tempted away from it. We miss or ignore the pointers which would have kept us on track and then we’re disappointed when we don’t get to where we think we should be, only to discover that God had a different plan for us all along. We are so blessed to have a God who knows where we’re going……. even when we don’t!
Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o’er me, where darkest clouds have been;
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free;
My Saviour has my treasure, and he will walk with me.
Anna Laetita Waring
With every blessing,
Sharon