Scotland 2022

Day 5

OK, so I’m a swimmer, by most anyone’s definition, as long as it doesn’t include flip turns. I almost always remember to pack a suit and when I forget, there are other options. So when the 80-year-olds scheduled the charge into the ocean, I was tempted. But it was smack in the middle of my no-commitment-promise-to-myself time. I did appreciate the variety of descriptions they used to entice us: “quick plunge,” “toe dip,” and especially “metaphorical swimming.”

But when I heard the water temperature (21 degrees, do the conversion if you must), the choice was clear: No ocean for me! Besides, at our B & B down the road, the Andoran House, we can swim metaphorically too. Not especially monastic, I know, but, hey, the reading material legitimizes it, not to mention our host extraordinaire, Richard.

Scotland 2022

Day 3

We made it to Iona on this, the third anniversary of Rob’s surgery for bladder cancer. He is well now. Thank God.

I miss Rob AND I am very grateful, over-the-top grateful, simultaneously.

This is my home-away-from-home, a B & B down the lane from the hotel where we share our meals and where most of the others are staying.

Scotland 2022

Day 2

I signed up for this trip from the wait list and learned I had a space to travel in late April. For this reason, I flew to Glasgow

(pronounced Glaz-go, by Londoners at least) on a later flight than the others.

That meant I had a longer layover in London.

To think this multi-faith prayer space was directly on my route in the giant Heathrow airport while I waited. People like me feel lonely here every day; they get lost…and found.

I took off my shoes and joined the pray-ers, welcoming their quiet company.

Scotland 2022

Day 1

It takes several traveling legs to get to the island of Iona in Scotland. I started the trek with others from my church today.

My morning question for this pilgrimage is,“Why am I here?” My evening question is,

“What were the gifts?”

In the 11th hour of packing, it occurred to me that I could take along the tiniest stone hearts from the collection I used before I retired, when I counseled kids and their parents. I imagine I will leave a few on the beach as I pray—for the friend who’s waiting for biopsy results, and another one who is suffering complications after surgery. For Rob’s dear brother. For my elderly mother.

Can I offer part of my heart for you too?