We journeyed around the little Island of Iona on an all day pilgrimmage. We began in front of the Abbey (South West Corner) at St. Martin's Cross. St. Martin was a fourth century Roman soldier whose conversion experience was told at the site. My notes say that he became the bishop of Torr Abbey in France and that the cross was erected to witness to God with the everchanging sky. It is a free standing Celtic cross. Here we also heard a reading of Psalm 90 and sang 'Come all ye People'.
Next, we journeyed to The Nunnery, where we made special notice of the absence of women from history (his-story). The nunnery was built at the same time as the abbey, but today it remains in ruins. This building is open to the skies, the world and to nature. At this stop, we were asked to consider/remember the influential women in our lives. We heard from 2 Kings from the words of Solomon, that not even heaven can contain you o Lord and we sang, 'Bless the Lord'.
Moving away from the village and towards the southern part of the island, we passed by the Catholic House of prayer and through a farm to pause. We stopped at a bench were we turned to look back at the village. The village is the hub of island life and hospitality. Here we paused to offer a prayer for the villagers and one for continued peace and cooperation between the islanders and the Iona Community.
Continuing south, we arrived at the only crossroads present on the island. Standing at the crossroads, we were confronted with the decisions that we often are required to make in life and the importance of communication (messages, etc.) as they travel across these roads. Here we heard from a passage in Deuteronomy, where Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses to the covenant. We were called 'to choose life'. Which crossroad are you facing and which part leads to life? Then we sang, 'Take, O Take me as I am'.
Moving west along the road towards the Machair, we made notice of the Hill of Angels. At this hill, Columba is recorded as being seen praying with his arms open and up to heaven. He was seen there by another member of the abbey who followed him. This bystander observed angels streaming to and fro where St. Columba was standing---thus, the title hill of angels. Here we heard the passage in Genesis about Jacob's ladder and we sang, 'Over my Head'.
Next, we journeyed across part of the golf course, past the lake, and through the rocky hills to reach the southern part of the island known as St. Columba's Bay. Here we ate our lunches and had some time to explore (and pick up rocks...if you are me). :) This marks the turning point of our journey. Here we heard from Mark 1:14-18 (come and I will make you fishers for people). Here we were asked to pick up two stones. One stone to represent something we would be leaving behind and one stone for remembrance/repentence to take with us. The stone representing what was being left we threw into the sea and the other went into our pockets.
Turning around to journey northward, we stopped at the lake that we passed by on our way down. Loch Dunee (spelt Dun I, where 'I' is represents Iona) represents the islands water supply. The water was really brown, but was precious because other than the streams which flow from the rain, it is the only source of freshwater for the island (as opposed to saltwater). We were reminded that water often means the difference between life and death for all living things. Here we heard a meditations about an African woman with her five children, the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman from John 4, and we sang "Mungu nemwama" (know that God is good).
Still moving north, we past through part of the golf course to reach the Machair---where we turned south previously. Here, we paused for tea and flapjacks. We spoke about the common ground that all people have and often traverse together--including walkers, golfers, and the island animals (sheep and cows). We heard the story from Acts about keeping things in common and we sang, 'Glory, gratitude and praise'.
Moving north still, we journeyed through boggy land and climbed some more rocky hills to reach Higher Ground. From this point we looked all around and could see the various edges of the island. Here, we considered in silence our lives...the very boggy ground we had traveresed both physically and spiritually in our lives...looking for solid ground, longing for solace and strength all around...for who knows what this life really holds.
We journeyed from this higher ground in silence to the Hermit's Cell. The Hermit's Cell is a small circle of rocks which make a wall about a foot or so tall. Here we remained in silence to listen to the sounds all around. After a lengthy pause, we heard Matthew 6:20ff about how no one can serve two masters. We were reminded how solitude was an important element of Celtic faith and Celtic Christianity in order to experience God.
Lastly, we journeyed more north and then west to our final stop, St. Oran's Chapel. St. Oran was the first of Columba's men to die and here we were reminded about the story of the Jesus in the Tomb from Mark and we sang, 'Ameni.'
For more details about the music or sites, please contact be via email. Most of the music is available through the Wild Goose Resource Group here in Glasgow. (wgrg@gla.iona.org.uk).
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