The rugged parts of life

Living in this part of Devon, we have Dartmoor National Park on our doorstep. As we travel around, we notice what is happening on Dartmoor, we see the hills change in colour and light. I look to see the weather on Dartmoor and guess how it might be coming our way. For the most part, it seems to be an idyllic part of the world, which appears to have changed very little over time. For millions of visitors, Dartmoor is a beautiful and scenic place. Behind the lovely appearance is a history of hard toil and struggle. It is a desolate place where making ends meet has always been hard. It has a long history of sheep farming but the land is marginal and the weather unforgiving. Quarries also mark it for stone and mines for metals, both of which require back-breaking work. It is far too easy to look at beauty and assume it has been achieved easily without much effort; the opposite is true: that hard work and overcoming hardship have brought about change. It has always been a struggle to live and work on the moor. These huge difficulties have helped preserve the nature and history of Dartmoor. Dartmoor is also important for its ancient monuments, there are very early stone circles, ancient standing stones, huts of disused mines, and tramways. They are a reminder of the engagement of human activity on the moor. It is interesting to note that the materials have often been recycled from a former use. It is no accident that there are many fine churches on Dartmoor. They remind us that an engagement with the hard life on Dartmoor was also rooted in a strong belief in God's providence and goodness. When you consider how hard life was on the moor, these monuments are all the more remarkable, with the effort to collect the materials and to construct them.

We also come to desolate and barren times as we journey through our lives. It can feel like being stuck on the moor, isolated and alone. We find it hard to keep going or find the right direction. There is also a real danger that we become so absorbed in our problems that we forget to look to God for wisdom and guidance. It is worth remembering that quite often, the less important debris of life can be put into better perspective. The clutter can distract us from some of the important issues. That clarity of difficulty can be the catalyst to value what is important and to protect and guard against those things that distract us. It is the experience of many that they find God closer, not because he has been absent, but over time, the clutter of life makes him less visible. It is no wonder that the churches stand tall to remind us and point us to reconnect with God.


Rev. Martin Wood. The Rectory, Church Lane, Cheriton Bishop EX6 6HY 01647 24119 (Tuesday to Sunday) revwood163@gmail.com