By Amanda Hines
The summer after my freshman year of college, I served as a camp counselor in Glorieta, New Mexico. All summer staff was asked to report to the camp weeks before the first groups arrived in order to go through all the necessary training. Those first few weeks were spent studying the summer curriculum, getting trained on the activity elements and building relationships with the rest of the summer staff.
One responsibility all the staff had to learn was how to be expert trail guides for the many trails that spanned the approximate 2,500 acres of the camp property. We would familiarize ourselves by going on multiple hikes a day and take turns leading each other to different campsites on the grounds. It wasn’t uncommon to have multiple trails cross paths with each other, so having specific markers came in handy.
If you’ve spent time hiking, you’ve probably seen what is called a cairn, pronounced like the name “Karen.” Cairns are human-made piles or stacks of rocks primarily used to mark trails and guide hikers to their destination. Historically, cairns have also been used to denote sacred spaces, memorials or burial grounds. Cairns are meant to signify and communicate something important to anyone who spots them, so it’s important not to knock them over or build any additional cairns of your own so you don’t confuse others.
I imagine you could think of your own significant “spiritual cairns” that mark meaningful moments of your own faith journey. Perhaps notable life events or milestones serve as big cairns, and there are probably small moments that have shaped your faith, like a hymn or story from Scripture you return to that brings you back into God’s presence.
The music we’ll sing and hear this morning offers some markers for us to reflect on. As we worship in this season of Eastertide, we’re reminded of the truth of Jesus Christ as the foundation for the church as she proclaims, “One Lord, one faith, one birth.” When we meditate on the beloved song “Jesus Loves Me,” we are given the comfort that Jesus remembers us. Even through doubts, fears and changes in life, Christ still hears us when we cry out and walks with us as a dear friend.
Let us join in worship together as we remember the living stones of our faith.