Light in the darkness – Lent walks 2016
Over the last few weeks as part of Sunday@thepub we have been doing our lent walks, this has been our third year. The last couple of years we have walked the coastal route from North Shields to Seaton Sluice. As part of this we have had oppertunities to pause and reflect along the way and we have had chance to chat together as we walked.
This year we have walked between our venues that we meet in each Sunday night, and we have done this at night. This has given us the chance to view our locality in a different light – darkness! We have walked along the river side and through North Shields and Whitley Bay, we have walked on a converted wagon way, we have walked new paths and seen new things.
We have been able to star gaze as we walked along the mouth of the Tyne, with the lights of South Shields to guide us. This was a powerful opportunity to stand and look into the depth of the sky and to sense the sea at its darkest. in those moments I now I felt small and insignificant but yet I was reminded of Psalm 8
1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honour.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
As we were surrounded by this darkness these words echoed through the air!
On one of our walks we stayed mainly by the main road all the way, its wasn’t a quiet reflective walk, it was full of the noise of the cars passing by, but even in those moments the conversation flowed. I was reminded as we walked of the hustle and bustle of life as the cars passed by. Each car containing a story of an individual going about their everyday lives. We paused a couple times with our lantern and candle and on one of them stood back from the road in a pub car park where we prayed and sang what a friend we have in Jesus. For that brief moment it became holy ground.
We also walked along the sea front on one of our walks with just a few folks with us. This was facilitated by one of our members. I end this blog with a poem and prayer that was used on this journey.
My Guiding Light by Ron Orcutt
You are the one that guides me
When I’m lost in the darkness of night
When I’m adrift on a sea of doubt
You are my guiding light
You are the one who hears my voice
When my words are held within
You are the one that calms me
When my world is crashing in
You are the one I talk to
When no one can understand
You are the one that walks with me
You hold my trembling hand
You are the one who sees me
For what I hope to be
You are the one that lifts me up
To be more than I can be
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 that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Thomas merton
Rob Wylie is the founder of BeachcomberFX and guides its leadership team. He has worked in the North East for over 20 years and has vast experience from various roles he has held. He has a passion for Fresh Expressions of Church and Pioneer Ministry as well as beer, beaches and Miniature Schnauzers.
