Significant Signposts
There are weeks when the universe is determined to lead you somewhere. This was one of those weeks. On almost every day and in numerous ways I have been confronted by signposts. They’ve popped up everywhere, quite literally.
It started with a casual remark on the radio by someone about ‘significant signposts’ in their life. At the same time I was archiving a batch of holiday photos and gazing at the signpost at Lands End in Cornwall, the one giving the distance to New York, John O’Groats and the Isles of Scilly.
Later on the same day, at our gardening club plant sale planning meeting I walked in on a conversation about fingerposts which apparently are quite the statement piece in the southwest of England. Fingerposts are those distinctive, traditional road signs with painted or carved arms pointing toward nearby towns and villages. Groups of volunteers have been working for decades, it seems, to preserve and restore them. Many of these signs date back many years and are part of the rural landscape. But local heritage groups, parish councils, and volunteers are on a mission to restore them to their former glory. Who knew?
Later still the conversation at this month’s grief cafe turned to personal signposts—key events, challenges, turning points that are perhaps only recognised in hindsight. At the time, they may feel like small moments, subtle nudges in a particular direction but later, they assume greater significance as clear markers that helped shape purpose. Our own personal fingerposts pointing us towards our purpose or destiny. Walking home, I reflected on mine, trying to identify patterns or recurring themes that might have pointed me towards my purpose.
Even planning a few revision lessons for my students for the final few weeks of their A Level studies I couldn’t escape the theme of the week. Essay writing is a skill they have developed over the last two years but now I am specifically coaching them to craft an essay under timed conditions. We were back to signposting again, this time for the examiner, including the phrases and structural cues to guide them through your argument, making it easy for them to understand where the discussion is heading.
Today was a gardening day. A few hours of gentle weeding, potting on, watering and sowing a few more seeds. Answering a plea from someone on Facebook I headed out with a few cuttings, divisions and seedlings for a new garden in the making.
“We’re easy to find.” they said. “Just look for the signpost to the church. It’s right outside our cottage”.