Half the fun of Iona is getting there. A forty-five minute ferry ride from Oban to the island of Mull, an hour plus bus ride across the island, another 10 minute ferry ride…and there you are. It’s worth the trip. We were blessed with a beautiful day to see this important site for the spread of the Christian faith, founded by the Irish monk Columba in the early 500’s. It seems that Columba got in a serious disagreement with another monk and had to leave Ireland. (Even monks can’t get along sometimes.) Iona became the launching pad for evangelizing much of Scotland, and for the reintroduction of the faith to England after the fall of the Roman empire. It’s an inspiring place with a living interdenominational Christian community still based there and doing considerable work in the community and in urban parts of Glasgow. For you history buffs Macbeth is buried in the graveyard along with about 40 of the ancient kings of Scotland. A great day on Iona and then back to Oban for another night. Edinburgh here we come.

Yesterday we were on the train to the western coast of Scotland.  Earlier that day we flew from Shannon, Ireland to Glasgow, UK.  Last night we spent the first of two nights in Oban, Scotland.  Today’s highlight will be visiting the island of Iona where St. Columba founded his Irish monastery about 548 AD.  More on the Iona visit tomorrow.

We had a wonderful experience on the Dingle peninsula on the southwest coast of Ireland. The natural beauty was breathtaking and no doubt inspired the ancient Christian devotion that is so much a part of the history of the area.  We sat in Gallarus Oratory, a 1200 year old drystone church that was  a scene of Christian prayer and worship for hundreds of years.  To bring things up to the modern period Marcia and I were fortunate to have a private meeting with Father Patrick, a very old Catholic priest who devoted much of his life to the study of Celtic Christianity.  He was the first one to translate the whole bible into Gaelic, the native language of Ireland.  What a treat!

Marcia was the designated driver in Ireland as she had the knack for driving on the wrong side of the road. (I think I scared her when I drove in from Dublin airport on the first day.)  She’s also done most of the photography and done a great job at it.  We’ve learned a lot, sampled a lot of pub grub, stayed in some beautiful places, and been moved by many of the places we have been.  More to share tomorrow!

It’s been a busy few days on the far west coast of Ireland.  Let me catch you up on our visit to Clonmacnoise from a few days ago.  This was one of the  most important monastic settlemtents in Ireland, founded by St. Cyrian  in the 500’s.  Clonmacnoise flourished for hundreds of years as place of learning and Christian expansion.  The ruins were at the center of monastic village populated by a couple of thousand people.

The amazing thing to me was the vision of its founder.  The site is next to the river Shannon,  an important river in Ireland.  It was also on the ancient east-west highway.  It was hard to miss and touched the lives of countless people.  How do we do that today?

We’re on the Dingle on the far west coast of Ireland for one more day and then off to Scotland!

The friendly bartender welcomes a novice behind the bar for his first Guinness!

We left Dublin today and headed north to Monasterboice, a monastic village founded in the sixth century by a disciple of Saint Patrick.  In its time is was center a of learning and the monastery was the hub of a village of two to three thousand people.  Not much remains today except the best preserved  carved “high crosses” in Ireland.  They were the illustrated bible for a population that could not read but still needed to learn the great stories of scripture.  We met a wonderful Irish guide named John who helped the whole thing come alive for us. We also toured Newgrange, the oldest tomb sight in Ireland dating back at least 5000 years.   We were surprised to see images carved by those ancient people included in the “high crosses” of a much later time.   The early Christians weren’t afraid to incorporate the art of their time to tell the gospel story.  Tonight we are staying at a beautiful B&B by the Irish Sea!

We found our nerve to drive the car again and headed south to Glendalough one of the major monastic city sites on the journey.  Glendalough was started by St. Kevin prior to the sixth centuryand had influence for hundreds of years afterwards as a base for Christian learning and mission.  I hiked up to the site of St. Kevins cell and met and Episcopal priest and his wife doing almost exactly what Marcia and I are doing.  The four of us had a great conversation together and made some plans to stay in contact.

It was wonderful to touch such and important piece of  Christian history.  Today we are headed north toward Downpatrick in Northern Ireland.

Armagh Chalice

After a big Irish breakfast we hit the town.  Prime stops included Trinity College to see the Book of Kells.  These illuminated manuscripts of the gospels were created by Irish monks at Iona before  the 8th century.  We also saw some ancient Christian treasures at the Irish National Museum of Archaeology going back to the roots of Christianity in Ireland.  Amazing to see how the Irish Christians incorporated the art of the Celtic pagan peoples into their own.  We also took a bus tour of the city and to lighten things up a bit we visited the National Leprechaun Museum.  I’ll let my traveling companion tell you more about that.  We ended the evening with dinner at Foley’s Pub. The owner Mrs. Foley sent over a little treat to our table. Time to call it a day!

After a great flight, and crazy car ride in Dublin we arrived at Baggot Court, our B&B.  I knew that driving on the left side of the road would be different but I had no idea.  I can’ t wait to see Dublin, when I’m not avoiding other drivers.  We’re staying near Trinty College in the southeast part of town. 

The journey begins!  After of couple of weeks of getting a little rest, tying up loose ends, and finishing up the itinerary it’s finally time to go.  Thanks to all of you who have said you want to follow our progress in Ireland, Scotland, and England.  If you are reading the book The Celtic Way of Evangelism, now is a good time to get started.

Marcia and I will do our best to come through with the pictures and regular posts. Feel free to comment if you like. Please pray that we will stay healthy during our time away so we can take advantage of all the opportunities.  Also, please join us in giving thanks for Tricia’s graduation this past Saturday from Columbia Theological Seminary with her Masters Degree In Practical Theology!  It been a long process for her and we rejoice in her success.

Thanks for your support in the previous weeks.  We pray for God’s blessing on Westminster even as you pray for us!

Christ shield me today
Against wounding.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.