Pilgrimage

We were inspired to visit the holy sites connected to St Aidan. We had initially planned to follow his journey from Iona to Lindisfarne, but in the end, we reversed the journey, and set out from the East coast of Northumberland and worked across to Iona on the West coast of Scotland. We learned a Benedictine prayer (used on Lectio 365 by Pete Grieg) and found this contained all that we needed on our journey:

'I am not in control. I am not in a hurry. I walk in faith and hope. I greet everyone with peace. I bring back only what God gives.'

It was the journey, and the intention - seeking God's presence with us and discerning his purpose for us - that remained our focus, not the arrival at any particular destination.

I AM NOT IN CONTROL

This was the first all-important lesson. For two people who love to control their environment, we were thwarted by the tides and timings of our walk across the sands to Holy Island. Time and time again, we realised the importance of relinquishing control, being guided by other factors than our own will.

I AM NOT IN A HURRY

Away from home and routine, we had to accept that there was no need for hurry. Waiting in the rain in a small, leaky bus shelter on Holy Island for the tide to turn before crossing back across the pilgrim path was a strange experience. We had to sit for two hours - wasting time? - and to accept that there was no hurry.

“There is nothing else. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” Dallas Willard

I WALK IN FAITH AND HOPE

'a long obedience in the same direction trains the eyes to see blessing in the present and to abide in God each moment.' Eugene Peterson

For recognizing and resisting the stream of the world’s ways there are two biblical designations for people of faith that are extremely useful: disciple and pilgrim.

Disciple says we are people who spend our lives apprenticed to our master, Jesus Christ. We are in a growing-learning relationship, always. We do not acquire information about God but skills in faith.

Pilgrim tells us we are people who spend our lives going someplace, going to God, and whose path for getting there is the Way, Jesus Christ. We realize that ‘this world is not my home’ and set out for the ‘Father’s house’. Jesus, answering Thomas’ question: ‘Master, we have no idea where you’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?’ gives us directions: ‘I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me’ (John 14:5-6)

I GREET EVERYONE WITH PEACE

We met so many people on our travels, and most memorable was the warm welcome we received at Craig Lodge from the staff there (Ruth, Eileen, the young people - Lochie, Joanna, Hannah, Mary, Father Fraser, the Romanian monk, Calum and Mary McFarlane-Barrow.

I BRING BACK ONLY WHAT GOD GIVES ME

What did we bring back? A pair of silver Celtic rings. A couple of dog paniers full of pebbles. Various books and papers gathered along the way. Many, many photographs and memories of thin places and sunsets.

A series of prophetic images from Ruth at Craig Lodge: a rope/cable used to secure sea-going vessels in a safe harbour; pen and ink for writing or creative activity. A sense of purpose and new encouragement for our own house of prayer.