The Pilgrim Way 3
In Cornwall, there is a remarkable preservation of Celtic crosses scattered across this timeless terrain. Many have stood faithfully for over a thousand years whilst others were lost in time waiting to be rediscovered. For example, a curious “lantern cross”, believed to have been concealed during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII, was found in a ditch centuries later within the grounds of an ancient church once the thriving centre of the surrounding region. Although still hidden beneath a canopy of woodland easily overlooked by those passing nearby, this “lantern cross” now stands at the church entrance as a silent witness to the legacy of faith that saturates this Edenic land—a union of enduring faith across the generations—past, present and future.
The most precious things in life are often hidden from view. We are naturally drawn to what is visible and immediate, yet God seems to delight in preserving His greatest works in secret places. Long before a cross is rediscovered or a pilgrim finds their way home, God has already been quietly at work beneath the surface, leaving waymarkers to guide our journey.
What appears lost is often only waiting to be found.
The Psalmist explored this mystery when he wrote, “My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.” Formation begins undetectable before it is ever tangible. Similarly our core being is first fashioned in hidden places. Perhaps this explains why the soul responds so deeply to moments of silence, beauty, and wonder. And why the rhythm of nature that surrounds us can awaken forgotten memories within the heart. Because we recognise the familiarity in our Creator’s handiwork. The same hand that sculpted the mountains, plunged the oceans, and arrayed the heavens, knit us together also. His signature rests upon both.
Wherever you find yourself today, take comfort knowing that God has left waymarkers for you to find. Though they may be hidden, they are not far away. If you follow the trail, it will lead you home.