A Thin Place: Iona

Just yesterday, Emily and I arrived back in Edinburgh after spending a week on the tiny Isle of Iona in the Scottish Hebrides Islands. Iona is the seat of Christianity in the British Isles and the home of Celtic Spirituality.

While on Iona, we took place in a retreat called The Gathering Place, one of the several weeks offered by the Iona Community, an ecumenical Christian community throughout the world committed to Jesus Christ, with a special bent toward issues of peace and justice. Emily and I lived in community in the ancient Abbey along with about 40 other people from throughout Europe and North America (mostly Europe, though). We started and finished each day in worship in the Abbey Church, took part in other various discussions, and lived the rhythm of work and worship. We each had chores every day. Emily cleaned the common room for the community and I cleaned floors. We each helped set up, serve, and clean up after our daily dinner meals.

We were both a bit skeptical about living in such close proximity to so many strangers, and even more so about having to do "chores". But something told me that by the end of the week were were going to be very sad to say good-bye to Iona, and even more so to our new friends. I was so very right.

Each person we ate with, talked with, worked with, and worshiped with we learned were on their own pilgrimage, had their own story of what brought them to Iona. Many were grieving the loss of loved ones: mothers, husbands, and wives (fathers, too). Others were recovering from some illness or other kind of life change. Many were preparing for life changes. Several were ministers from various denominations throughout Europe and North America. Some were on sabbatical like me. All were eager to talk about faith, politics, world issues, and, as we discovered, their souls.

It was beautiful. Beautiful people. Beautiful setting. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful.

Emily and I spent the first few days sleeping far more than we anticipated. How tired we were from the past few months (and years, for that matter). After catching up on sleep, we took in the beauty of Iona, the times of creative worship, and enjoyed getting to know others.

One of the highlights for me was going to Staffa, a little island about an hour away by boat where we saw puffins and Fengel's Cave, a giant cave in the side of the Island. Staffa is a geological phenomenon, created hundreds of thousands of years ago by volcanic eruptions. I also enjoyed early morning walks on the Island, enjoying the solitude of this holy place where St. Colomba once prayed and led his band of monks as missionaries throughout the British Isles. I also enjoyed playing golf on the Macker, a wide-open area of the western side of the Island. Other than accidentally choosing left-handed clubs and having to play the entire round with a 3-iron and a putter, I enjoyed the breath-taking views of the ocean (think Pebble Beach with sheep and cow-patties everywhere!) and the conversation with Brian, a retired Methodist minister whom I think is the genuinely nicest person in the world (he and his wife took us to the pub later in the evening for a pint!)

Emily enjoyed the goodness of Iona: the rest, the food (all organic and super healthy!), the conversation, and of course, God. It was such a joy to watch her get to know some of the more elderly people in our community throughout the week. At one point I couldn't find her after a meal only to discover that she was lounging at one of the dining tables laughing and talking with several older women from England. She also endeared herself to an older gentleman who gave her the nick-name "cheeky monkey". I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I assume it's a term of endearment. Mostly, though, it was great to see Emily rest and engage in conversation and relationships in ways that makes her so attractive and beautiful!

I'm sure that Iona will bear gifts for each of us over time. I'm grateful that we spent time there early in our time away so that we can live out of the experiences there over the next several weeks. It has set the tone for our time here in Scotland, England, and France. Thank God for rest, reflection, relationships, and restoration!