On Good Friday there was the traditional Good Friday Walk, and this year it was from Ibstone. I always love these walks whichever benefice is hosting, we are so blessed by being surrounded by lovely countryside and the walks take us through a variety of fields, woods and open spaces all away from the general distractions of our busy lives. For those who may not have been on one or not known how they are organised, the host, (this year Ibstone church and school) take a group on a walk roughly 1 ½-2 hours with several stops. During these stops, the unfolding story of Jesus’ crucifixion is read, a prayer is said and a hymn is sung. For those who prefer, there is a reflective Good Friday service in the church. The walk ends with a lovely tea for everyone consisting of hot cross buns and cakes and of course the very welcome cup of tea or coffee. This year I wanted to go but felt rather anxious because my walking ability is not what it used to be. However my daughter Carol said she would come with me, so off we set with the rest of the group. We had only just entered the wooded area at the beginning of the walk when I realised I had forgotten the thing I most needed with me, my walking stick. I knew the terrain would be uneven and tricky in places and as I have rather poor balance my stick is really important. Carol to the rescue! She quickly found a very robust looking stick, tall and strong and it was just perfect for my needs. My plan was to see how far I could get on the walk, there would be the opportunity to return at each stop if the walk was getting too tiring. At the first stop I was quite happy to carry on and then at the second stop I felt I could still go on. At the third stop although I was feeling tired it was going to be quicker to go on one more time than to go back! The feeling of completing the walk at the end was so surprising, I felt energised and very happy; all the tiredness seemed to drain away. Later, as I reflected on this, I thought about that stick and how it helped me to complete the walk. I know I would have struggled without it and very likely would have returned at the first stop. It gave me reassurance and support when I might otherwise have overbalanced or fallen even but most of all it gave me the perseverance to carry on.

There are many stories in the Bible of people who persevered against all the odds, and one of my favourites is that of Elijah who is exhausted having fled the revengeful army of Queen Jezebel who has threatened to kill him and he just wants to give up. He has done everything God wanted him to and still he is in great danger. He lies down under a juniper tree and asks God to take his life, he can go on no longer. He falls asleep and is woken by an angel who has provided bread and water to revive him. He eats and drinks and falls back to sleep. Again the angel wakes him with more food and water and eventually Elijah gains strength to continue on his journey to Mount Horeb where he will meet God.

There will have been times in most people’s lives when everything looks hopeless and we can see no light at the end of the tunnel. And yet… how often does someone appear, just with a kind word or support to help us through? Or something changes very slightly giving us a little hope? And then we have God. This God who is our refuge will not desert us, he walks with us through all our pain but at our worst times, it is very hard to believe that. God knows this too and never judges us when we doubt because we are overwhelmed by our suffering.

Elijah finds God in “the still small voice of calm” (I Kings 19 12-13) and that same still small voice will be speaking to us all through our life’s journey loving us, guiding and supporting us laughing and weeping with us because we are His, we are his children and as a parent he cares so deeply about all that happens to us.

When we finished our Good Friday walk, I laid the stick down in the field before leaving through the gate and said a quiet prayer of thanks for it and hoped that someone else might also find it a support on their walk too.