The SHINE Blog Contest Clue Roundup
Alright - let’s summarize all of our clues so far (they continue to come in at an alarming rate) so that we can get this thing solved and stimulate the economy by eating at Cracker Barrell. Remember that the clues below are just to question #5 - you must answer all of the questions and turn them in to Kevin before SHINE on Sunday, October 26th. See the full list of questions here.
Question #5: On this mysterious spot at Glenwood a person who comes to SHINE from Virginia in the month of October can see four of these. All four are different.
The clues to #5:
1. “If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. But what of a grave?”
2. Clue #2 referred to something swinging from the end of a rope. As pointed out by Jeana, this was the name “Saint-John Perse” found hanging on the rope leading to the bell tower in the Sanctuary. I will point out as an aside that Saint-John Perse was a French poet who won the Nobel Prize in literature.
3. The answer to #5 is “an object, with four small components. It has been at Glenwood for many decades, never changed, and never moved one inch from its original position.”
4. “Ten up. Ten down. Vice versa. That’s close.”
5. “A&T S.U. CRM @WW 2/1″ This seems cryptic, but I think I remember something important happening in Greensboro on a February 1st in the past.
6. “What you are looking for . . . is like a grave. You can feel it.”
7. “All four are different. Together they are sixteen.”
8. “What you are looking for is out in the wide open spaces. And yet be prepared to push past a couple of cobwebs to see it.”
9. Traci weighed in with the opinion that October in the original question was a red herring while “north” might have been a directional clue.
10. A very cryptic clue followed:
One participant, who doesn’t wish to be identified (I will refer to this person as “Pat”) asked me, “How can you be certain these four items have never moved in several decades? Have you watched them continuously every second of every day?”
Good question. No, I have not watched them with that level of attentiveness (and besides, they have been in this original position since before I was born – how could I?). Pat, there is no reason to expect them to move, and yet I will tell you that I have not seen these four objects for several years now. They’ve disappeared. But I know they are there, as always. I am certain of it. It’s really just airspace, it you want to be technical about it. Close your eyes, and you can feel it. Interestingly, Rob Smith had a photograph on display (or maybe the photo is still there, I will check). A little news item, I believe it was. The photo doesn’t show them, but it was still newsworthy. Anyway, that’s all the proof I need.
11. A three question clue followed that:
“KEVIN, DID SOMEONE TAKE OR STEAL THE FOUR ITEMS?” Answer: No, don’t be ridiculous.
“KEVIN, WHEN DID THEY DISAPPEAR?” Answer: That is very difficult to pinpoint. It was several years ago, most definitely. But not to worry. The four items are safe, and right where they should be at this time of year. You can see them this Sunday if you really want to.
“KEVIN, DID YOU EVER ACTUALLY SEE THESE FOUR ITEMS YOURSELF?” Answer: Oh my, yes. I remember seeing them as a young child every time I came to church (after I had grown enough to see over the top of the door, that is). I didn’t quite understand what they were, then, but I would glance to my right, and notice that they were very neatly lined up. They reminded me of a graveyard.
12. “Beneath spooky stonework. Where a troll might be lurking.”
13. The next clue was posted on another blog. It was “cobwebs glisten in the morning.” As fearless detective Sarah pointed out in a later post, one can deduce that the clue refers to cobwebs being outside as the only way that they would glisten is if they had dew on them.
14. Our next clue came this past Sunday as our bulletins for the morning service were “circulated.” There was a cryptic message in there.
15. It was confirmed there was a clue under the bridge next to the church but it has remained too dark to decipher it. This was where the reference to trolls came in #12.
16. It was disclosed that Glenwood “old-timers” would have an advantage over the young people because “they are too young to have ever seen the 4 items at all” while the old timers could solve this mystery without ever leaving their recliners. Kevin later added the following to jog their memories - ““What is the greatest achievement in the career of a French poet?” As an aside, that sounds like what I was talking about in #2 above.
17. The most current breaking news concerns whether there is a hidden clue in the picture on the cover of Christian Endeavor’s debut album “Always Loved You” (available now for $10). Keep checking here for further development of that clue.
I must say - I’m still stumped. When Kevin said things were lined up and they reminded him of a graveyard, all I can think of is Traci’s squad in our last leadership exercise.
