Christian Viewpoint: Learning to walk in company with God
The name intrigued me. ‘Godsman’s Walk’ – an Inverness right of way which runs parallel to Culduthel Road before emerging in Culduthel Gardens.
It’s named after a Captain Godsman who, back in the late 18th century, lived somewhere near the start of Old Edinburgh Road.
Apparently each evening at the same time he walked the path, then in open countryside, enjoying fresh air and the view over the Haugh and the river towards the town.
I would find ‘Godsman’, originally meaning as it says ‘God’s man,’ a difficult surname to live up to.
My own, ‘Dempster’, originating from ‘Doomster’, an old word meaning ‘judge’ or ‘executioner’ has no relevance to my life today.
But to be a ‘Godsman’ would be a constant reminder that I am, as are all followers of Jesus, called to live as he lived, standing firm for truth, goodness and love.
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If we are to fulfil our potential as God’s women and men, we need a conscious openness to the inner whisper of Christ, often described as ‘walking with God.’ Many Christians have a set time each day for this regular exercise of faith.
I went to explore Godsman’s Walk. Hemmed in by garden walls on one side and leafy trees on the slope down to the Haugh on the other, it’s narrow now, and muddy. Jesus said the way of walking in friendship with him is a narrow way, and the going may be difficult and challenging.
But at times we have a flickering vision of the loveliness of things and the loveliness of the city beside the river which God has promised to build, whatever this language means.
The houses between the path and Culduthel Road formerly had gates leading on to Godsman’s Walk, but (no doubt for security reasons) these have all been blocked up. It’s a picture, I suppose, of the fact that so many of us in Scotland have no idea that God passes so close by us, a God we will meet if only we tear down the brickwork, unblock the gates.
I remember hearing that in ancient times Castle Street in Inverness was called ‘Doomsdale’ the incline up which prisoners would walk to face the judgement of the Doomster, and possible execution. Christians believe there is a reckoning, a judgement after death.
In the light of this it seems to me that we can either walk up Doomsdale, wondering, despite our unbelief, if there is a judgement to come, or we can take another path.
We can follow in the footsteps of centuries of God’s people who have found that God the Doomster loves us, and reaches out in sheer forgiveness and grace, inviting us to accompany them on Godsman’s Walk.
