Pilgrimage to Iona

 In June we took a long-anticipated journey to Scotland. Our primary goal was to have some time on the island of Iona, but we also enjoyed a couple weeks of vacation exploring the dramatic landscape and history of Scotland. Given the current challenges of Covid that make travel unpredictable and risky, we almost did not make it to Iona. But by God's grace we were able to be there for a few days, although shorter than planned. We wanted to share a few pictures and highlights from our time on this special island.

One of the ancient crosses near the abbey

For 1400 years, pilgrims have been traveling to the island of Iona, one of the islands of the Inner Hebrides of Western Scotland. Iona was founded as a monastic community in 563 CE by an Irish monk, Saint Columba. It has been described as a “thin place,” a place where heaven meets earth.

On the north coast of Iona

We were greeted by ancient rock formations reportedly formed by volcanic forces more than 1 billion years old. The island feels extra-terrestrial, otherworldly. There are no trees, or only very few. It is like standing on an ancient rock surrounded by icy cold waters, small, yet full of force and vibrancy. It is green, there is lots of mist and rain, and almost everywhere you go you will hear sheep baaing. Crossing the short distance from the island of Mull, one is captivated by the Abbey rebuilt in the 13th century in the very location of the original Abbey of Saint Columba from the 6th century, rebuilt again in the 20th century. 

The Iona Abbey, rebuilt on the same place as Columba's abbey in 600 AD.

They hold daily services in the Abbey

Bob enjoyed some time alone of prayer and reflection

in a quiet corner of the sanctuary

Our experience was filled with holy moments, divine encounters, kindred spirits and new friends along life’s journey, a spirit of worship and hospitality, and hearing the calls and seeing rare and interesting birds, most notably the Corncrake and the Puffin. One highlight was hiking to the very spot where Saint Columba and his companions landed from Ireland in 563 CE, the place from which Columba could no longer see Ireland, thus, the place to start a new community of faith which would spread upwards and outwards. 

Bob talking to a fellow hiker as we approach Columba's Bay

Along the hike, with Columba's Bay in the background

Tiny clusters of orchids along the hike

We passed many sheep as we hiked, in beautiful fields
brightened by tiny daisies and buttercups

We read a biography of Columba (which was written in the seventh century!) during out travels, and were inspired by the powerful ways that God worked through Columba to reveal God's truth, love, and power to people throughout Ireland, Scotland, and Britian. We are so grateful for the introduction that we got to this special part of the world with such rich spiritual history. Truly, God's creation, God's people, and God's Spirit were a source of refreshement that made it feel like we had been on the island for a week rather than just 3 short days.

"...In repentence and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength,

but you would have none of it."

Isaiah 30:15

An African Lament

Recently I taught an intensive course on Spiritual Formation at the Tyrannus School of Ministry in Juba, South Sudan. I spent a week with twenty-eight wonderful young men from different parts of Sudan and South Sudan. It was an incredible time together. In this course, I highlight and teach on the spiritual practice of lament. Lament is a practice found in many of the psalms and even whole books of the Bible, such as the book of Lamentations.

Tyrannus School of Ministry, class of 2022
led by our friend Hany from Egypt

Praying with and being prayed for by students

Theologian Emmanuel Katongole suggests that hope lies within this practice, the practice of lament, a practice whereby individuals and communities argue and wrestle with God. Lament grounds a person and his/her community in hope despite multitudinous dislocations and challenges. Lament is a means of mourning and protest; it is a way to engage God. “Lament,” writes Katongole, is “a way of acting in the midst of ruins.” Lament sustains and promotes Christian agency and grounds the Christian life in hope (Katongole 2011; Katongole 2017).

On that note, I gave my students the opportunity to write a lament, coming out of the depths of their souls, representing the heart cries of their peoples. Several students shared their lament with the class. It was a powerful and poignant time, hearing the heartaches and hopes of God’s children. Below is one of the laments from a student whose initials are YSA. He gave permission for me to share his lament with a wider audience.

From student YSA of South Sudan -

God, you are so powerful. There is no one like you. You have created us in your likeness oh God. Lord, we have seen and acknowledge your goodness in the land of Africa, your greatness, your majesty, and beauty are seen in the land of Africa – green land, full of resources, gold, silver, mountains, rivers, animals and with all kinds of trees. By your goodness you make the land of Africa green and different than any other land worldwide. And by your grace you create us in it. Thank you, God.

But, my God, let me ask some questions. All other people compare Africa with none other than paradise. But we Africans, we do not see the benefit of this land and the benefit of the resources in it. Why, why God? We plant and we plant, but we reap no thing in our land. Your people are dying because of hunger and from thirst. Where is the benefit of this land for us God? Africans lose hope from their lands; they are hoping outside their land. Believers draw back and worship other gods like you are not here. We service idols and are reigning under evil spirits which cause hatred, jealousy, and war among our nations within Africa. People become like cannibals. We are hunting ourselves like nothing.

We Africans totally lose any confidence in this land. We are secreted all over the world. We are secreted like simsim* mixed with soil. Who can separate simsim from soil? Only you God can do that. Not only people are secreted, even the animals and the birds of our land are fleeing away to places where we do not even know. We who remain in Africa, we are struggling with a bad situation and there is no change.

We really, really lose hope oh God. I think if we get wings today no one will remain in this land, oh God.

Why are we suffering like this God, especially in Sudan and South Sudan. Those who are living in the desert are better off than us who are living in green land of Africa.

God, why are we suffering like this, oh God?

In night our dreams come to pass but when we wake up in the morning, we feel bitter and more bitter. Why do we rejoice and enjoy beauty at night and mourn in the morning? We lose tears from our eyes. Why? Why…oh God? We do we see the sun rising with a new condition every day, and at midday we hear sounds of many people crying everywhere.

The number of dead people increases every day. People are dying everywhere. I think the blood of African people is raining like water in the river under the ground of land. I think their souls are crying before you. When will their voice and the voice of their children be heard, oh God? When will you respond?

African orphans hope that things will change, but today things become worse and worse than yesterday. Every year becomes more bitter than last year. The hours of yesterday are better than the hours of today. Africa is like a fatherless child who sees his friend walking with their father, feeling happy and enjoying life. White people help us every year from generation to generation. God when will you help us so that we can reward our brethren white people?

God, hear my prayer. Forgive my people and heal our land. Forgive all Africans their sins.

God, one day one time you gather us like a hen gathers her brood in her wings. Your name is most higher. God thank you for hearing this prayer of mine. I believe my dream will pass. In Jesus’ name I pray.

*simsim is a colloquial term or translation in South Sudan for sesame seeds