God Of The Uncharted Ways - A Virtual Pilgrimage 3/10

Hello and welcome back to God of the Uncharted Ways.

Today on our third day,

We remain on the sacred Isle of Iona,

Stepping deeper into the remarkable community founded by Saint Columba.

We will explore the vibrant daily rhythms that made this small island a heart of faith,

Pumping light and life throughout a continent.

Our journey together is always an invitation to step away from the world's noise,

To quiet the soul,

And attune our hearts to the loving voice of God.

Again a reminder that at the halfway point of our walk,

You'll hear a gentle chime.

If you're walking an out-and-back path,

This will be your cue to turn for home.

Now take a deep breath.

Let the rhythm of your steps settle your spirit.

And let's step into the living heart of Iona.

Yesterday we stood on Iona's shores with Saint Columba,

Witnessing the dawning of a new spiritual light.

We felt the courage and faith that propelled him to this place of divine appointment.

Today we walk within the sacred enclosure of that monastery to experience the vibrant,

Disciplined,

And deeply prayerful life that quickly made Iona a powerhouse of faith,

A beacon in a changing world.

As you begin your walk today,

Imagine you are walking within the monastic family of Iona in those early years.

The air is charged with prayer,

Purpose,

And the scent of wood smoke and sea.

The early Celtic monasteries often had a sacred boundary marked by an earthen bank or simple wall separating the inner sanctuary from the wilderness beyond.

Imagine yourself passing through such a gateway onto Iona's holy ground.

Feel a sense of entering a place set apart,

A sanctuary of peace and purpose.

Picture the layout,

Simple,

Sturdy buildings of timber,

Wattle and daub,

And local stone clustered around a central church.

See the monks moving with quiet intention.

Some heading to the fields,

Others to the scriptorium,

Some to the shore to fish or gather seaweed.

There's a hum of activity,

Yet it's unhurried,

Prayerful.

Take a deep breath.

Imagine the air is alive with the scents of Iona.

The ever-present salt from the sea,

The wood smoke from the kitchen fires,

The fragrance of herbs from a small garden,

Perhaps the faint,

Sweet smell of beeswax from the scriptorium where candles are made and manuscripts are sealed.

As you exhale,

Let go of the fragmentation of modern life.

Allow yourself to sink into the imagined rhythm of a life where all things—prayer,

Work,

Study,

Community—are seen as interconnected and sacred.

What do you hear?

Listen for the sounds of this prayerful,

Working community,

The distant rhythmic chant of psalms from the church,

The gentle scratch of a quill on the vellum from the scriptorium,

The sound of a grindstone,

The bleating of sheep,

The calls of the monks to one another as they work,

And always the backdrop of the wind and the sea,

Grounding everything in the wild beauty of Iona.

Sense the spirit of this place,

One of deep peace,

Yes,

But also of joyful industry,

Profound learning,

And an unwavering focus on God.

Imagine the camaraderie among the monks,

The shared purpose that binds them.

Continue this immersive walk for the next several minutes,

Allowing yourself to become an observer,

A participant in the daily life of Columba's Iona.

The Iona that St.

Columba established was far more than a collection of buildings.

It was a meticulously crafted spiritual ecosystem,

A school for saints,

A powerhouse for mission.

Its influence was forged in the crucible of its daily life,

A beautifully integrated tapestry woven from three main threads,

Prayer,

Work,

And study,

All bound together by deep community and radical hospitality.

Prayer was the very breath of Iona.

This was the heartbeat.

The monks followed the rhythm of the divine office,

Chanting the psalms,

Interceding for the world.

Private prayer,

Meditation on scripture,

And a constant awareness of God's presence were paramount.

Columba himself was known for his long vigils of prayer,

A testament to his ascetic devotion.

Work was not seen as a distraction from prayer,

But as prayer in action.

The Iona community aimed for self-sufficiency in a challenging environment.

Monks tilled the often thin soil,

Fished the surrounding seas,

Tended livestock,

Ground grain,

And built and maintained their simple structures.

This manual labor was not seen as drudgery,

But as a partnership with God in creation,

A way to serve the community and provide for guests.

Study was the third pillar,

Making Iona one of the most important centers of learning in its time.

In the scriptorium,

Monks painstakingly copied not only the holy scriptures,

But also classical texts,

Preserving knowledge in a turbulent world.

They wrote poetry,

Hymns,

And chronicles.

Columba himself was a renowned scholar and poet.

This dedication to learning ensured that the faith they proclaimed was thoughtful and deeply rooted.

And woven through all of this was hospitality.

The guest house on Iona was a vital part of the community.

Strangers,

Pilgrims,

Chieftains seeking counsel,

The poor seeking solace,

All were to be received as Christ himself.

This openness to the world was key to Iona's influence.

Columba was more than an abbot.

He was a spiritual friend to his monks and to many beyond the monastery.

He was a spiritual father,

A wise counselor,

A prophetic voice.

He shaped Iona not by rigid rules alone,

But by the compelling power of his own deep love for God and for souls.

What can this ancient rhythm of Iona teach us today?

The Iona community didn't compartmentalize their lives.

Prayer,

Work,

Study,

And community were all interwoven.

How can we seek a more integrated faith in our own fragmented world?

While we don't live in monastic communities,

The principle of shared commitment to spiritual disciplines within our own families,

Churches,

Or small groups can still be a powerful force for growth and mission.

Iona's dedication to study reminds us that faith and intellect are partners,

And that learning can be a sacred act that illuminates our world.

The light that shone from Iona was kindled by this intense,

Dedicated,

And holistic way of life.

It was this deep well of prayer,

Purposeful work,

And profound learning that prepared its monks to then go out and transform a nation.

As you continue your walk,

Imagine you are walking around the sacred enclosure of Columba's original monastery.

The wind carries faint echoes of chant.

The stones underfoot feel warm with centuries of prayer.

You are part of a living stream of faith that flows from this place.

Let's pray for a spirit of dedication in our own lives inspired by Iona.

Lord God,

Architect of souls and builder of communities,

We thank you for the witness of your servant Columba and the early monastic family of Iona,

For their devotion in prayer,

Their diligence in work,

Their passion for study,

And their open-hearted hospitality.

We give you praise.

Kindle within us,

We pray,

A desire for such holy rhythm in our own lives.

Help us to weave together our prayer,

Our daily tasks,

Our learning,

And our service to others,

That all may be done for your glory.

May our hearts become places where your word is lovingly inscribed,

Our hands instruments of your creative and healing work,

And our homes and communities places of welcome and light.

Strengthen us to be a beacon of your love wherever you have placed us.

Once you're home and settled,

Here are some journaling questions you might like to work with.

Consider the daily and weekly rhythms of your own life.

Which ones are life-giving and draw you closer to God?

Are there any new rhythms of prayer,

Work,

Study,

Or hospitality?

You feel invited to cultivate?

The monks of Iona saw no separation between sacred and secular tasks.

What is one practical way you could bring a greater sense of sacred purpose,

Or prayerful awareness,

To an ordinary part of your daily routine this week?

In what ways does your faith community reflect the purposeful work,

Deep learning,

And radical hospitality of Iona?

How do you contribute to that?

Tomorrow,

Having explored the rich inner life of Iona,

We will see how that spiritual powerhouse equipped and sent missionaries into the wider world.

We'll follow the story of Saint Mehar,

Sent by Kalamba on a unique mission,

As an example of Iona's far-reaching influence.

And that brings our time to a close.

May you go in peace,

Held in the grace of the God who calls you out upon the waters.

I look forward to welcoming you back here again tomorrow.

In the meantime,

Rest in His presence.

Go with God,

And be blessed.