Breathless

Friday September 16, 2017

Glasgow. 

Today was my day to explore Glasgow. So I did the touristy thing and hopped on a hop on hop off bus and stopped at a museum that piqued my interest. 

So far this trip had been largely about amazing vistas. Wide open spaces. Silence.  The scenery of the highlands. Today was very different. 

I toured around the museum enjoying the artwork and artifacts. The stories they told. 

When I was part way through the museum I learned that they had Dali's Christ of St John  of the Cross. I had studied this painting in one of my classes at seminary and was excited to see it in person. 

There are no words really. It was one of those moments that simply took my breath away.  

Do we allow ourselves to be inspired? Stunned? Taken in by the beauty of the world? Moved by art or music? 

What leaves you breathless?

 

Where we belong

Thursday September 15, 2016

Edinburgh - Highlands. 

Today I did something very touristy. One of the pieces I was most disappointed in missing in not walking the second walk was to spend more time around Loch Ness.  As a child I had studied the legends around the Loch Ness monster. I remember writing a report on it in around the 3rd grade. The witness accounts, and the scientific study of the loch. I had spent sometime there while in Drumnadrochit, but it felt like I needed more. 

The couple I met in Drumnadrochit had previously lived in Fort Augustus and mentioned day tours from Edinburgh to this lochside town. So I looked them up and found one that included a loch cruise.

When I arrived in Edinburgh I felt myself tense up. Shoulders and neck and back. I wasn't sure why. 

Until the next day on the bus. It wasn't too long once we left the city. A few more hours and before I knew it we were back in the Highlands. And I felt myself relax. 

 

Growing up in a city, I always figured I'd live in the city. It was what I knew. 

But what we know isn't always where we belong. Knowing and finding where we belong is no easy thing. And it isn't always what we expected. But there are places that call to our soul. Places where we can be. For some it is the city. The people and buildings. For others it's the wide open spaces or small communities. 

The same is true in finding faith communities. It needs to be somewhere you cans relax and be. To soak in God's grace. To learn. To let go of what is burdening you. To be challenged and pushed. To repent. To be forgiven. To forgive others. All the pieces of spiritual life, of discipleship, begin with being where you belong. One place or constantly moving. Where is your soul called to be. 

 

Expectations

Wednesday September 15, 2016

Invermoriston-Edinburgh

Today I was in a little village named Invermoriston. It was one of the towns I had planned on staying in while I was walking, and decided to stay there for a night and explore the town. 

I had read about some beautiful waterfalls around the town and knew I'd want to hike to those - but there was also a well of St. Columba. 

 

Later this week I'll be traveling to the Abby on Iona and was excited to see some of the other sights off the Island of significance. 

I was more than a little disappointed in the well. For some reason I had built it up in my mind to something it just wasn't. 

 

But it did get me thinking about expectations. The ones we place on ourselves and the ones we place on others. Which are helpful? Which are harmful? Do we expect too much of ourselves? Or too little? 

What about in our churches and faith lives? What do we expect of people? Volunteer time? Engagement? Commitment to study and worship and spiritual disciplines? 

What expectations do we need to increase or hold on to and which should we let go of? What do a really need from ourselves and one another? How are we helping one another to live into God's expeditions? To do justice. To love kindness. To walk humbly with our God. 

Itchy Feet

Tuesday September 14, 2016

Drumnadrochit - Invermoriston. 

Today is my last day in Drumnadrochit. Halfway through the day I left and headed for the next town over Invermoriston. 

I have enjoyed my time here immensely. I loved getting to stay at one place a couple of days, and exploring one tiny part of Scotland. And yet when I woke up this morning I had itchy feet. I was more than ready to move on. I wanted to see what was next down the road. 

 

And I began to think of all the traveling that Jesus and his disciples did. They never really seemed to stay in one place that long.

Moving that often is both wonderful and exhausting. It is hard to never really feel settled.  And yet, sometimes there is this pull to keep going to see what is next. 

When in our faith lives do we need to get itchy feet? I don't mean necessarily to actually move, but to spiritually move. Stretch. Try something new. To ask new questions. To learn a new spiritual practice. To explore new mentorship. To try new worship expressions. 

It is so easy for us to get stuck. To get into a routine and stay there. Never branching out. Never exploring beyond what is right before us. 

One of the things we can learn from Jesus and his roving disciples is that change isn't always bad. Sometimes we need itchy feet in ourselves or our neighbors. We need to explore a bit more. Experience a bit more. Find new heights and depths of our relationship with Christ. To be challenged. 

Sometimes we could all use itchy feet.

 

 

Wonder

Monday September 12,2016

Drumnadrochit. 

Today was my second full day in Drumnadrochit. It really isn't that large of a town. So I set out on the walk to the nearby Urquhart castle. 

On the walk the views are of the Loch Ness. It is stunning scenery, and then you arrive at an Ancient castle. 

 

The castle's history which goes back almost a thousand years. 

After exploring a bit I sat and people watched for a while. Tour group after tour group came in. But what struck me most was the kids.

Their sense of awe and wonder. 

How quickly we seem to lose it. It is so easy for us to to become jaded and cynical. To learn the science of the Loch and scoff at the idea of mysterious creatures in its depth. 

To lean the history of a castle and fail to feel the wonder of wars over it for hundreds of years. 

So I took myself back up to the top of the castle and looked down again. 

And let myself wonder. Let myself feel the weight and mystery of the castle. Of the Loch below. From up high with the wind and the views stretching for miles it is easier to let oneself go. 

 

To hear the voices from the past. To wonder what witnesses saw on the loch.  

To image ancient people building lives in a harsh landscape. 

Today I was reminded of God's gift of wonder. Of how much we gain from it, and how important it is in our lives. 

Today, I let myself wonder. 

 

Hospitality

Sunday September 11, 2016

Drumnadrochit. 

Today I went to church. 

As a minister, this happens a lot. As a minster not working, this happens far less often. 

Yesterday when I got off the bus in Drumnadrochit I got off a stop too early. Right next to a sign giving me directions to a Church of Scotland church (Scottish Presbyterian essentially). And out of nowhere I knew I was going to attend this church the next day. 

So yesterday evening I went and found it, to see how long it would take me to walk there, and what time the services were. 

This morning walking to church I actually felt nervous. It made me realize all over again just how hard it can be for those not accustomed to it, to simply walk in the doors of the church. 

 

Once I reached the walkway I was greeted by a local who asked if I was visiting. He then introduced me to the greeters who were kind and warm and welcoming. 

Once the service began it felt like home. Slightly different theology, but not by much. Different hymns, but familiar tunes. 

It was after church, however, that I got a real sense of this community. One of the individuals I had met before the service encouraged me to come for tea or coffee. And before I even made it there a couple had come over, knowing nothing about me other than I was from Canada, and offered to have me over for lunch. 

I was taken aback a bit, but went. And am so glad I did. They were wonderful. A true representation of Christian hospitality. They fed me, and told me about the town and after lunch even took me to an ancient burial ground. One of the local attractions no one really knows about.

 

And then home again for tea. I spent most of the day with this couple. We talked about our lives and churches and countries and families. 

By the time I left I felt like I was saying goodbye to old friends. 

 

This was a church and community that does hospitality WELL. And it wasn't because they had a perfect committee (although I'm sure they have one for greeters at least). Some of it is due to the fact that they get a lot of visitors and so a lot of practice. And some of it is simply that it's something they enjoy. It is part of their identity. 

Welcoming the stranger.  

When Plans Change

Saturday September 10, 2016

I like to think of myself as being flexible. The go with the flow kind of person. The kind of person who isn't upset or worried by a simple change of plans. 

And somedays, I am this person. 

But somedays I am not. 

Yesterday as I began to think about the beginning of my next walk, to wonder about supplies etc it occurred to me that I still couldn't put my hiking boots back on. My feet were too swollen and beat up. This is is bit of a problem if you're about to undertake at 60mile hike. 

So I hemmed and hawed and prayed. And decided to cancel the second walk and instead stay a few days in a couple different towns. 

This was not an easy decision to make. I was frustrated and felt guilty. Which was more than a little ridiculous. 

But I had plans!!

So today as I arrived in the village I would be spending three whole nights in a row in, I was surprised when I mostly felt relief. 

Life, vacations, faith, are rarely as simple as we'd like. And rarely go completely as planned. How do we react when we have to change plans? When the best laid plans simply don't work out? So we rejoice in what we find? Or simply wish we had what we fear we are missing? 

Drumnadrochit is a charming, if small, village and I'm looking forward to exploring it, some of the surrounding walking trails, and spending some time at the loch.  

 

It may not have been what I had originally planned, but it seems God is reminding me that my plans aren't usually the best ones anyway. Something good is in store.