Divine Intervention

Have you ever met someone who was old, but - still young? Someone who had forgotten that his chance to change the world had already come and gone? I did, all on a bright September Sunday, in Norfolk.

"Today we will walk those ten miles with you, and show you a Treasure along the way," said Ted. Ted was a marvelous Guide, and our only assignment was to keep our eyes on the back of his head (to understand this more fully, please see the post from December 13, "An Unmistakable Guide").

But - a Treasure? The thought intrigued. It was a perfect day for finding treasure! Ted strode off ahead, friend Rosie and I chattering away behind him. 

And then, suddenly, there it was. The Treasure. 

Just ahead, and through the trees was an ancient church, nearly concealed behind green foliage and climbing blossoms. 

"Well, it's nearly 2:00 so he should be there now," said Ted. "He" was Mr. Bob. Davey, an 85 year old man who had spent 20 years restoring and preserving St. Mary's Church, Houghton-on-the-Hill. His wife Gloria had happened upon it in 1992 and been surprised and shocked by its condition. It was a ruin - no roof, no flooring, covered with thick ivy she could scarcely battle her way through. It had suffered heavy war damage, and now contained the detritus of some kind of satanic worship - black candles, upside down crosses, signs of animal sacrifice.





Gloria told the story to Bob, who immediately made it his single life's goal - to do everything he could to restore that lovely old 12th century church. In doing so he even found, beneath the crumbling plaster, the oldest wall paintings in Europe. 

You can read about Bob and what he has done here:

http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/houghton/houghton.htm

We three got to meet Bob, and hear his description of all that it took to get this job done. He is the sweetest man. Long, white beard; somewhat stooped and resting against the back of a pew bench. Smiling, welcoming, wise. 

'Divine Intervention' is an apt description! God sent him there, he said, and his face glows as he shares this. What did we think of Bob? Looking at him rather reminded me of a Star Wars-ish  Obi-wan-Kenobi ("Where did you dig up that old fossil?"). But neither 'old', nor a 'fossil'. Perhaps more like venerable, I think.

He was in his 60's when it all began. 'Too late' for changing the world? I think not.

It's never too late for a Treasure hunt.


See you along the Way!
the SconeLady