As an enthusiastic and lifelong walker (I can still remember my first ascent of Zimbabwe’s highest mountain, Mt Inyangani in the Inyanga Mountains in the east of the country, at the tender age of about 8 or 9 – not to mention many walks with school friends through the bush around our village, where we would dare each other to lie between the railway tracks as the train to Salisbury/Harare passed over – do not, repeat, do not attempt this!) the hymn I would choose for walkers, professional or otherwise, would certainly be “One more step along the world I go”. As Christina mentioned last month, Lent is a journey which we all take in whatever way is best/most appropriate for us, accompanied by prayer, reflection and fasting, and encouraged by the services and devotions of the Church. To help us on our Lenten journeys this year, we will be holding weekly services of Compline, with prayer and reflection, followed by a discussion group where we can think and talk about the pillars/signposts of our faith as Christians.

Like some of yourselves I can look back on decades of Christian journeying and all sorts of adventures and happenings along the way – but I still come to each Lent with fresh eyes and an open heart, trying to put myself wholly at God’s disposal, and hoping to draw new strength and encouragement for the journey ahead. One of my other favourite hymns on the theme of journeying is “Lead, kindly light” by John Henry Newman, one of whose lines is especially relevant for walkers, in Lent or at any time:

“Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me”.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection we are able of course to “....see the distant scene....” but we are still on our way there in this life, one step at a time and, as walkers everywhere, we need guidance and assistance along the way, from God and from one another in our daily lives, filled as they are with all sorts of issues and challenges. And so my wish, and prayer, for us all is a fruitful, positive and holy Lenten journey in which we are kept “...ever constant by our Saviour’s side, that with Him we may appear at th’eternal Eastertide” (Forty days and forty nights).

May God bless us all in this holy season of Lent.

The Revd Alec Brown.