Leaving Iona

For those who depart Iona, there is a Leaving Service at the Abbey. One of the prayers is:

The Maker's blessing be yours
on your road
on your journey
guiding you, cherishing you.

Tonight's service was a combination Silent Service and Taize. Quiet time on a Sunday night.

Tomorrow we will be on the 9am ferry across the Iona Sound to Mull, where we will pick up our car and journey across Scotland to Lindisfarne (Holy Island). It turns out this is in England. Yep, I'm headed to England. What a surprise!

P.S.

I may have stayed on the beach too long, as the return walk pretty much did me in. I walked past a sheep that clearly looked like how I felt.

Day 6 on Iona

At the Harvest service this morning the lesson was from Genesis.

God said, “I command the water under the sky to come together in one place, so there will be dry ground.” And that’s what happened. God named the dry ground “Land,” and he named the water “Ocean.” God looked at what he had done and saw that it was good.

I have seen that "good" in everywhere I have walked, stood, or gazed out upon.

This day we returned to the beach on the north shore. It is about a 45-50 minute walk, past fields of grass and sheep. When the beach comes into view it takes your breath away. The surrounding islands are all hues of green and blue and lavender.

While on the beach, I created a mandala - out of seaweed, kelp, shells and rocks. A mandala is a prayer form which involves creating a circular design.

Tomorrow we leave this thin place where I have indeed experienced a closer space between heaven and earth.

Worship Excellence

With the worship service this morning, I have now attended 12 services of worship. Morning and Evening Prayer, Compline, Service of Harvest Thanksgiving.

I'm struck with the excellence of worship in each service. Led by both Iona community staff and volunteers, it is obvious that each person is intentional about preparation and presentation.

In the The Iona Worship Book we use are these words: "We will not offer to God offerings that cost us nothing."

I believe leading worship whether it be by clergy or laity, is an offering to God. And if we do not prepare, it feels like an offering without cost.

I take home with me a renewed commitment for those times I am called to participate in worship, to give to God an offering of my time to prepare and to serve.

How to get the day started on Iona

This morning the owner of Martyr's Bay Restaurant asked me if I was the one who had emailed some many weeks ago inquiring if I would be able to find espresso on Iona. Indeed, that was me.

How to end the day

Each night we attend worship service at the Abbey at 9pm.

Here are some images taken as we entered the Abbey on recent nights.

Day 5 on Iona - Dun I

Dun I, which means "Hill if Iona", is the highest spot on the isle. At 332', it offers stunning views of Iona and of islands to the north, south, and east.

Our plan today was to climb Dun I. It was not clear exactly what the route to the top was or how difficult it would be.

Fortified by breakfast, morning prayer, and cappuccinos we were on our way. As we began the climb the grass slope was gentle. Soon it was boggy, rocky, and far more difficult than we had imagined.

We tried different routes but each one presented different challenges. Though the intent was to summit, our bodies, and our better judgment, said no.

Accordingly, I could only offer one-half of a highpoint pose.