Saturday 27th May: The Adventurous Four and the hidden people.

Much refreshed from our 'pampering' and relieved by the overcast sky, we regathered at the URC church and said goodbye to our hosts. David had returned to lead us in morning worship and we were joined unexpectedly by 3 NHS staff including a GP from Northfields who we were able to pray with. Anxious to try to keep to timetable, the much-depleted band of four set our best feet forwards. We were soon walking through gloriously wet grass; cooling our still hot and itchy feet. The morning was through some stunningly beautiful countryside, through the villages of Barston and Berkswell to Eastern Green. At each village church we were welcomed by a couple of people with refreshments, chatted briefly, prayed and journeyed on. With only 4 of us; each had a good turn at carrying the cross and Gay seemed to gain winged feet when she was cross-bearer! We had good chats with dog-walkers and several folk wanted photos of us... the scallop shells are good conversation starters.

Great home-made cookies outside Barston Church Centre. 

The cross before me, the world behind me... no turning back, no turning back.

By contrast the afternoon was right a-cross the city of Coventry. It's interesting walking through a busy city-centre carrying a five-foot cross fluttering with blue ribbons; how many people manage to pretend they haven't seen you, (mobiles are an excellent distraction). The conversations we had were with children, young lads who moved out of our way on the towpath, two immigrants and a young gay chap who was marking the first anniversary of his mother's death, asked us to pray for him and then called for God's protection and provision over Gay and I on our journey... we were both moved to tears.

Footsore, but ON TIME!! and joined by 5 others, we walked the last half mile to the vast University Hospital in silence. A lady  standing at the bus-stop saw the banner, smiled and put thumbs up. On the way to the chapel I was able to slip Prayer books into the hands of two cleaners and a ward orderly.. the' hidden people' of the NHS.  Kirsteen, the Baptist chaplain, welcomed us and... once most of us sat... we found we couldn't stand! She reflected on Luke 8:40-56, the woman with the haemorrhage who Jesus identified from among the crowd. In her closing prayer she spoke of the Jesus who makes 'hidden people visible'. God had certainly lead us to some hidden people along our way. May they feel his touch and power go out to them.

Three of the adventurous four! (Matt took the photo!)

We had just found our route blocked by a fallen fir tree. Matt suggested we retrace our steps to the last road, but the explorers pushed through on their hands and knees, pushing and passing the cross under the vegetation. Scratched and laughing, we emerge into the sunlight again!

'Yea... though I travel through the valley of the shadow...