Dava Monument (Jesus Saves)
I've not found religion, in fact I'm a confirmed atheist. But for the last 50 years or so of my life the Jesus Saves sign has been a landmark on the A939 between Forres and Grantown on Spey. (Initially I used to pass it on visits to relatives but nowadays it my lifeline to the Central Belt.)
In recent years, it has come under attack by graffiti artists - the previous time I passed it someone had written Lucy Rocks - but someone always seems to restore its original message.
A friend from Grantown once told me how it is said to have come about. An English travelling salesman once got stuck in a snow drift and, thinking his number was up, made one last prayer for help. Just after that a local farmer appeared and took him to safety and from then on he is said to have resolved to mark his salvation at the spot he was rescued, hence the Jesus Saves message.
I don't know if that is a true story, and the travelling salesman is sure to have passed away a long long time ago, but someone has maintained the tradition.
The A939 is a dreadful, dangerous road and the rock is one the bleakest stretch of the Dava Moor. For some people the Jesus Saves rock will have a real religious significance but for me it has become an integral part of the scenery and I hope it stays that way. (Lucy can rock off.)
Dava Monument (Jesus Saves)
I've not found religion, in fact I'm a confirmed atheist. But for the last 50 years or so of my life the Jesus Saves sign has been a landmark on the A939 between Forres and Grantown on Spey. (Initially I used to pass it on visits to relatives but nowadays it my lifeline to the Central Belt.)
In recent years, it has come under attack by graffiti artists - the previous time I passed it someone had written Lucy Rocks - but someone always seems to restore its original message.
A friend from Grantown once told me how it is said to have come about. An English travelling salesman once got stuck in a snow drift and, thinking his number was up, made one last prayer for help. Just after that a local farmer appeared and took him to safety and from then on he is said to have resolved to mark his salvation at the spot he was rescued, hence the Jesus Saves message.
I don't know if that is a true story, and the travelling salesman is sure to have passed away a long long time ago, but someone has maintained the tradition.
The A939 is a dreadful, dangerous road and the rock is one the bleakest stretch of the Dava Moor. For some people the Jesus Saves rock will have a real religious significance but for me it has become an integral part of the scenery and I hope it stays that way. (Lucy can rock off.)