Iona Pilgrimage

Tuesday was Pilgrimage Day. A group of us set off at 10:30 on a seven mile walk from the Abbey that is located midway on the island south to an old quarry, to Columba’s Bay and then back up the west side of the island and across some pasture land back to the Abbey. We stopped at several places along the way where our leader offered thoughts, prayers and/or poems for us to consider. Our first stop was at the remains of the Augustinian Nunnery built in the 1200s where we thought about how women have not only not been recognized for what they have accomplished but have often been excluded from full participation in many aspects of life. Next we paused at the crossroads which, of course, exemplifies most of our lives at many different times in our lives. What do I do now? Where do I go after this? We trekked on to the quarry which was the source of some of the stone for the Stevenson lighthouses built throughout Scotland from 1790 to 1940. The Stevensons were the family of poet Robert Louis Stevenson. Who knew? Next was Columba’s Bay and lunch, sandwiches carried with us from the Abbey. Columba’s Bay is where Columba and his men first landed on Iona in 563. After lunch we choose two stones from the beach. One we threw into the ocean as a symbol of something we wanted to leave behind on Iona. The other is for us to take home as a reminder of our stay ere. We continued on through grazing land (by sheep and cows) that serves double duty as a golf course. Playing there requires a whole other set of skills beyond being able to play golf. Our next to last stop was at a circle of stones in the middle of the island that appears to be the remains of a beehive hut. It is known on the island as the hermit’s hut and is a place of contemplation and meditation. We walked in silence to the hut and sat together in silence for a while – so quiet, just the sound of the breeze. We couldn’t even hear the sea. Then we went back to the grounds of the Abbey and gathered in St. Oran’s Chapel. This chapel is part of the cemetery and served as a reminder that all our lives end here after our earthly pilgrimage, and through it all we are with God. The island pilgrimage ended at around 4:00.

At 7:30 many of us gathered in the center of the cloister to learn some group liturgical dance from a couple of the women from the Netherlands. They were all circle dances, and both men and women participated. People of Grace, get ready to dance when I return.

During the healing service tonight we prayed for those who have died, and I thought especially of Hal. I think he would have gotten a kick out of being prayed for on Iona. He liked to travel so much and to see new places. I know too that he appreciated being prayed for by all of the people of Grace and the many people around the country who had him on their prayer lists.