This cross sits on the side of the road between Meavy and Cadover on Dartmoor, Devon. It is a waymarker on the South Western route of the Abbot’s Way, between the Abbeys of Buckfast and Buckland, it also marks the way of the track from the Augustinian Priory at Plympton to Tavistock Abbey. Down the road from this cross is Marchant’s Bridge over the River Meavy.

I got to the location pre dawn but had to wait 40 minutes or more for the sun to finally peep over the surrounding hills.

Cross the mirror and discover another world (or another side from us)

37611 Pegasus drifts along the Cross City line near Wylde Green following the stopper, another unusual daylight loco move on this section of the Cross City line with the tractor running from Wembley to Derby.

Also called cross spider, diadem spider, or crowned orb weaver.

In the south of Sweden.

Roman and Medieval Bridge - Ponte de Lima - Portugal “The main symbol of Ponte de Lima, that together with the river names the town, is its bridge. In reality, it’s a composite formed by two bridges: a medieval part, which is bigger, starting on the left bank of the river and stretching to the church of Santo António da Torre Velha and beyond, for the length of two more arches. After that, starts the roman part of the bridge. It is only five arches long, starting from the big arch already lying on the old, dry riverbed” - visitepontedelima.pt

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I had to travel to Sudbury for work this week, while there I visited a memorial for the lives lost to overdose/opioid abuse. I was struck by the pictures included on the crosses. Some of these people were so young.

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Northern Minnesota

Au bout du chemin, une croix.

At the end of the road, a cross.

Glasnevin Cemetery

I got up early yesterday for yet another trip to Muscatatuck NWR to take pictures. This time of year, deer season changes everything. I always think of the quote from Bambi’s mother “Man is in the woods!” The feeling of nature being in total lockdown was palatable, so I left.

While on the backroads making my way home, I passed a small farm in Jefferson County that had a donkey laying in the field. I couldn’t pass on taking its photo as it looked so content. It was while looking at what I had captured that I remembered the legend of its cross. It doesn’t matter if you or I believe in the legend or not, a legend by definition is simply a time-honored story. Here are a few facts to be considered:

The donkey is the only creature found in nature with this natural marking. It serves no purpose in concealing the animal from threats.

With or without belief in the legend, for the Christian, just seeing this animal and its marking reminds of our Lord and Savior and His sacrifice…a very good purpose!

Last but certainly not least…all things are possible with God!

I hope your day is blessed! John

Here is the legend copied from the internet:

The legend of the donkey’s cross begins in the Bible. In Mark 11, Jesus sends two of his disciples to retrieve the small donkey no one had faith in.

The farmer did not believe the runty donkey was capable of earning his keep. When the farmer informed his children that he was going to have to kill the little donkey. His children begged him to sell the donkey, but the farmer would not hear of it. He told them the donkey was worth noting to anyone.

The children were heartbroken and so very sad for the frail little donkey. The children went to their father and asked him “Father please take the donkey and tie him to the tree and see if someone will take him for free.” Seeing his children weep for the small animal was more than the father could bear, he agreed.

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, and sent two of his disciples to go and retrieve the small donkey. The farmer did not think that anyone would take the animal, he was surprised when he seen two men approaching him.

The farmer told the men he was sure the donkey would be of little use to Jesus. The disciples assured the farmer that Jesus wanted his small animal. The farmer was worried that Jesus would be disappointed with the donkey, but he handed it over to the disciples anyway.

Jesus placed his hands on the petite animal, and in that moment the donkey knew he could anything Jesus asked of him.

The donkey was so proud to carry Jesus into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. He was devoted to his new master and followed him to Calvary. He could not bear to see his master hanging on the cross so the animal turned his back to the cross. The shadow of the cross fell across donkeys back and it been there ever since.

And that’s the legend of how the donkey got it’s cross.

St. Oswald b. Plankenwarth . Styria . Austria . Europe