Sacred Stones and Sacred Stories

From Heathrow International Airport to the Salisbury Plain, England windy frigid weather did not detour our quartet from a great beginning to our stay in the West Country. We enjoyed a long and thoughtful stay around the sacred stones. We considered the evolution of the site, the purpose of the otter ditch, the hinged megaliths and the border markers. This site which draws visitors, baffles anthropologists and intrigues the curious did not disappoint. Visiting Stonehenge has long been a personal goal. It was worth the years of study, consideration of various theoretical positions to be standing on the plain. A little chill did not take away from the majesty of the Stonehenge.

I didn't run at the World Heritage Site, not its neighbor, Durrington Walls. I did have a very nice, yet frosty run Easter morn in Bath, England. I trotted along the Avon River and through the historic town. Within twenty-four hours we had gather information about gods, King Arthur, we related to the land, and spoke of faith, lore and legend. After my run I hurriedly clean up and hustled back to town for an early Easter service.

I never removed my coat in the large drafty cathedral. I did listen attentively as The Church of England priest gave a nice homily on the resurrection story. It was Mary of Magdala who told the tale of the empty tomb and risen Jesus. Her narrative has been shared over time and place again and again. The human endeavor to pass along a story of love and sacrifice is symbolized in the Christian Eucharist. Like much of the information we had encountered in our first day of travel, this story involves basic elements- earth, bread and wine. Like the stones on the Salisbury Plain these organic materials are given meaning by stories that strengthen tradition and keep the work of the past meaningful in the present.

Engage the Sacred. Run.

 

Tom