My fortnight in Scotland is over. It was remarkably dry - we had a few showers while Karin and I were in Edinburgh, otherwise there was no rain to speak of. We had a wonderful time seeing the city.
Our flight to Frankfurt was uneventful, and getting around with my little German has been a fun adventure so far. Tomorrow we leave on the train to visit Wilhelm's family until Monday morning, when we fly home. We are looking forward to seeing Germany, and to seeing Wilhelm and his family.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
GoMA in Glasgow
I found a computer with access in the Library at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Glasgow. I returned here from Iona yesterday. We have had amazingly beautiful weather for the whole time. Thanks be to God.
The week at Iona was very renewing. I enjoyed building community, working side by side with wonderful people, and having time to pray and reflect as I walked about a harshly beautiful island with extraordinary old buildings from early Celtic Christianity. I discovered a lot about myself, about God, and about community. I also was surprised how deeply alone I felt when I arrived in Glasgow. Even though I was having a "wee walk" through the downtown streets with thousands of other people, I missed the community I had on Iona, and I missed Karin and my family. I felt alone, in an "in-between" sort of place.
Karin should be in the air as I write this. I will shortly be going to check out of the hotel and take the shuttle to Edinburgh, so I can get checked into our hotel there and then go "collect" Karin at the airport. I am looking forward to being with her and sharing the sights and sounds and food and culture of Scotland and Germany together.
The week at Iona was very renewing. I enjoyed building community, working side by side with wonderful people, and having time to pray and reflect as I walked about a harshly beautiful island with extraordinary old buildings from early Celtic Christianity. I discovered a lot about myself, about God, and about community. I also was surprised how deeply alone I felt when I arrived in Glasgow. Even though I was having a "wee walk" through the downtown streets with thousands of other people, I missed the community I had on Iona, and I missed Karin and my family. I felt alone, in an "in-between" sort of place.
Karin should be in the air as I write this. I will shortly be going to check out of the hotel and take the shuttle to Edinburgh, so I can get checked into our hotel there and then go "collect" Karin at the airport. I am looking forward to being with her and sharing the sights and sounds and food and culture of Scotland and Germany together.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Puffins!
We had a wonderful trip to Staffa yesterday. The captain of the boat said it might be "a wee bit splashy" on the way out, and we got drenched. Good thing I had my "waterproofs" -- waterproof jacket and over-trousers. It was the first time I've used them. The weather has been wonderful -- no rain to speak of.
Staffa was magnificent. The basalt columns and Fingal's Cave (which inspired Mendelssohn) were fantastic. And the puffins were delightful! They love people because people scare away the seagulls, their main predator. So when people gather on the top of the cliffs (where the puffin nests are), and wait patiently, the puffins will gather on the cliffs, often only a few feet away! They are adorable and make a wonderful cooing sound which reminded me of the contented sound some people make after a good meal. But their finding protection from their enemies at the feet of people reminded me how we find protection from our enemies at the feet of God -- "deliver me from the evil one..."
Tomorrow morning I'll be leaving Iona and heading to Glasgow, and then on to meet Karin in Edinburgh. I can't wait to see her again!
Staffa was magnificent. The basalt columns and Fingal's Cave (which inspired Mendelssohn) were fantastic. And the puffins were delightful! They love people because people scare away the seagulls, their main predator. So when people gather on the top of the cliffs (where the puffin nests are), and wait patiently, the puffins will gather on the cliffs, often only a few feet away! They are adorable and make a wonderful cooing sound which reminded me of the contented sound some people make after a good meal. But their finding protection from their enemies at the feet of people reminded me how we find protection from our enemies at the feet of God -- "deliver me from the evil one..."
Tomorrow morning I'll be leaving Iona and heading to Glasgow, and then on to meet Karin in Edinburgh. I can't wait to see her again!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Service of Prayers for Healing
I attended the service of prayers for healing, and it was a blessing to have been there. It is not "charismatic," as some might expect from such a service. Rather, it was what it's name says. We prayed for healing -- body, mind, spirit, relationships, peace, and end of strife. I submitted names of some family and congregation members, and they were prayed for during the service, and there was an opportunity to go forward for prayers -- offered by the whole community -- for whatever anonymous need the person felt. You could go forward for yourself, for someone else, for some need in the world -- and it was anonymous. The congregation together prayed that God would heal whatever was causing harm. It was quite moving.
Today we will be taking a boat trip to the island of Staffa to see the puffins and Fingal's Cave, a remarkable geological formation that inspired Mendelson to write some beautiful music. Hopefully the weather will be such that there isn't much seasickness!
Today we will be taking a boat trip to the island of Staffa to see the puffins and Fingal's Cave, a remarkable geological formation that inspired Mendelson to write some beautiful music. Hopefully the weather will be such that there isn't much seasickness!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Pilgrimage Day
Today I went on a reflective pilgrimage around the Isle of Iona. It was a time of prayer and reflection as we examined various sites of historical and religious significance on the island. It was a wonderful experience, and a beautiful day to enjoy it!
Last night I attended a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), which is the Scottish version of a barn dance or square dance. It was a lot of fun. A lot of this week has been about living in community, enjoying the gifts and differences of others, and sharing our unity in Christ -- a good thing for the Church to do. We don't have to agree on everything, but we can still love and trust one another.
Tonight is a service of prayer for healing -- to pray for healing physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally; and to pray for healing of the nations, and so on. I've especially been looking forward to this service, as I think there will be ways to incorporate this sort of service back home at Pella I.
Last night I attended a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), which is the Scottish version of a barn dance or square dance. It was a lot of fun. A lot of this week has been about living in community, enjoying the gifts and differences of others, and sharing our unity in Christ -- a good thing for the Church to do. We don't have to agree on everything, but we can still love and trust one another.
Tonight is a service of prayer for healing -- to pray for healing physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally; and to pray for healing of the nations, and so on. I've especially been looking forward to this service, as I think there will be ways to incorporate this sort of service back home at Pella I.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Report from Iona
I'm here in Iona! I know it's been a few days since I've been able to check in, but there is a hotel on the island that has some terminals for rent with Internet access.
The journey here was a delight. It was fun to spend some time in Edinburgh and Glasgow before the long journey -- eating cullen skink, riding a double-decker bus, listening to a bagpiper, and watching the Andy Murray-Andy Roddick tennis match in a pub in Glasgow. It was a great time.
The journey was long -- it took almost 8 hours to get from my hotel in Glasgow to the isle of Iona, including two bus rides (one on a one-lane road across the isle of Mull, which was quite exciting!) and two ferry rides. But the travel was uneventful.
The isle of Iona has a harsh beauty. Rocky outcroppings with green pasture land, and full of old ruins of various types. I'm staying in a room in the Abbot's House, adjoining the Abbey, with six other men, all clergy, four from the US, one from Canada, and one from England. There are about 50 residents staying here this week, I think, and they are from a variety of nations. It's a wonderful thing to live in community with such a diverse group. We don't all agree on a lot of things, but we all live together in community, in harmony. What the church is supposed to be, right?
The worship here has been very simple. Services are at 9am and 9pm each day, with themes for the evening times of worship. Last night was a time of quiet worship, tonight will be a service focusing on justice and peace.
The island is a beautiful place to explore, and I hope to go on an "off-road" pilgrimage tomorrow to see and learn about some of the sights.
There is also a lot of time to rest, to pray, to read, to walk, to nap, and to wonder at the determination of St. Columba and the other monks who established this place.
I don't have the ability to download my photos to the computer in the hotel, so pictures will have to wait. But know that I am here safely, and that all is well.
The journey here was a delight. It was fun to spend some time in Edinburgh and Glasgow before the long journey -- eating cullen skink, riding a double-decker bus, listening to a bagpiper, and watching the Andy Murray-Andy Roddick tennis match in a pub in Glasgow. It was a great time.
The journey was long -- it took almost 8 hours to get from my hotel in Glasgow to the isle of Iona, including two bus rides (one on a one-lane road across the isle of Mull, which was quite exciting!) and two ferry rides. But the travel was uneventful.
The isle of Iona has a harsh beauty. Rocky outcroppings with green pasture land, and full of old ruins of various types. I'm staying in a room in the Abbot's House, adjoining the Abbey, with six other men, all clergy, four from the US, one from Canada, and one from England. There are about 50 residents staying here this week, I think, and they are from a variety of nations. It's a wonderful thing to live in community with such a diverse group. We don't all agree on a lot of things, but we all live together in community, in harmony. What the church is supposed to be, right?
The worship here has been very simple. Services are at 9am and 9pm each day, with themes for the evening times of worship. Last night was a time of quiet worship, tonight will be a service focusing on justice and peace.
The island is a beautiful place to explore, and I hope to go on an "off-road" pilgrimage tomorrow to see and learn about some of the sights.
There is also a lot of time to rest, to pray, to read, to walk, to nap, and to wonder at the determination of St. Columba and the other monks who established this place.
I don't have the ability to download my photos to the computer in the hotel, so pictures will have to wait. But know that I am here safely, and that all is well.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Almost Gone
I'm sitting in a Caribou Coffee in St. Paul waiting to leave this evening. This is my test to see if I can post from a wi-fi site. Hopefully it will work and my next post will be from Europe. I'm excited to go. Next post from Scotland, I hope!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
