England, Scotland, and Wales

I'm taking just a few minutes to give you an update on what
is happening with me these few days. Two weeks ago I was
invited to be an hononrary chaplain at St. Deiniol's Libary
in Wales October 11-31. It is a world-renowned residential
library that has roots in the Church of Wales of the Anglican
Communion. I get room and board in exchange for celebra-
ting the Eucharist during the week and being in residence
for pastoral concerns. Last Monday, just a few days ago, I
was asked if I could start September 29. I agreed to come
and start my duties on the earlier date.

As a result my life during the last few days has been in
turmoil. Yesterday I moved my stuff up from Holy Island
(where I've been since early June) to storage in St. And-
drews. This afternoon I catch a ride with a Church of Scot-
land colleague to the first of four probationers' residential
conferences that I have to do in the next twelve months in
preparation for transfering my ordination to the Church of
Scotland. On Sunday afternoon I'll return to St. Andrews
for the night. Early on Monday morning I'll travel by train
to the Library in Wales. Then I will have a month to enjoy
the Library in Wales, serve in a pastoral position there,
and do a significant amount of writing that I need to do.

Things are happening so quickly that it has been hard for
me to catch my breath. I realize that I am experiencing a
fair amount of grieving for leaving the people of The Open
Gate, other friends on the island, and the peacefulness, holi-
ness, and beauty that characterizes Holy Island. But I look
forward to getting to know the Church of Scotland as I start
the long final phase of the ordination transfer process this
weekend. Also I am eager to get down to the Library in
Wales to get some serious work done on my thesis. This has
been a special summer and fall for me, some of the best
times in my life.

I have often experienced transitions from one place to
another, but never have I had to go through three tran-
sitions as I am doing within these four days. I have been
keenly aware of the Lord providing for my every need.
I have felt loved, protected, and guided. It's a special time
for me, one that I will treasure in my heart. As I reflect
on these four days I realize that until yesterday I was in
England, that for these next three days I am in Scotland
where I've been for the last four years, and then that Mon-
day I am in Wales for a month. It is an adventure I am
really enjoying.

Blessings to you and yours,

A Little Time Out

Tomorrow I head out on the 'Iona Pilgrimage' for a six day
retreat to engage with the story, people, and present con-
cerns and commitments of the Iona Community. The Iona
Community is in the western islands of Scotland and is a
much larger sister community of the Community of Aidan
and Hilda (CAH), the community that sponsors the Open
Gate Retreat Centre where I've been since early June.
Last week Ray Simpson, one of the leaders of the CAH,
helped to lead a retreat at Iona on contemporary pilgri-
mage. Ray and other leaders thought it was important
that I go on the Iona Pilgrimage. They hoped that my
going would help strengthen the kinship ties between
the two sister communities.

We will spend the first three days, Saturday to Tuesday,
in Dunblane, a town in the central part of Scotland. The
program includes worship in the unique Iona style, becom-
ing familiar with the Wild Goose Resource Group, and hear-
ing about the ecumenical orientation of the Iona Community.
On one of those days we participate in the 'Glasgow Pilgrim-
age' in order to learn about the urban foundation of the Com-
munity. We will spend our last three days on Iona to learn
more about the present work of the Iona Community, its
ministry of healing, and the Community's Rule of Life. I do
not know how many people will take part, but I do know
that we will experience living in community and worship-
ping together. We are also told to expect time for relaxa-
tion and recreation.

I have been feeling a little worn out the past few weeks be-
cause I have stayed on Holy Island longer that I had ex-
pected. It was like I sprinted at the beginning of my time
when I thought I'd be there only six weeks. Only later did
I realize that I needed to run as a long distance runner. It
will be good to enjoy Iona (with Holy Island, one of my fav-
orite places in Britain) and have some time out for a week.
I expect to be refreshed and to continue my volunteering
at The Open Gate.

Blessings to you and yours,

Recently Found on Holy Island: A Supply of Dr. Pepper

Other than finding a stash of Dr. Pepper available for con-
sumption the other day, there really is nothing significant
to report. My routine consists of cleaning toilets, washing
dishes, preparing rooms for guests, leading a couple of
prayer times a week, and being available to people as they
drop by The Open Gate Christian Retreat Centre. God con-
tinues God's slow and steady transformative work in my life.

But here are some observations and thoughts about the last
few weeks:

I noticed one Holy Island resident sipping on a bottle of
Dr. Pepper a week or so ago. I went on a wild search for
the fine drink. My heart was gladdened when I finally
found a sizable supply at a little store in the center of the
village.

As of today I have been volunteering at The Open Gate for
three full months. I expected when I arrived here that I
would be here only six or seven weeks. But now I plan to
be here until October 31 when I move from here to take
up a placement at a Church of Scotland congregation near
St. Andrews.

There's been a significant and constant downpour of rain
the past week. Over on the mainland there has been con-
siderable flooding, but Holy Island has been spared. I don't
remember experiencing such a longterm downpour. Today
we saw a little sun peek out from behind the storm clouds. It
was glorious.

I have enjoyed the many American guests who pass through.
Last week I especially enjoyed a small group of Episcopalians
from St. Paul, Minnesota. I think they left St. Paul at this
time to escape the Republican National Convention in their
fair city last week. I thought they were all right even
though they were Democrats. I made sure that they heard
all the good news coming out of the RNC in their home town.
Yet it was refreshing to have fellow country people with
whom I shared a similar language and cultural cues!

Since I arrived here on Holy Island, England, I have been
receiving a crash course in all things English. I have been
told that I make a great cup of tea for an American. I have
learned that for a proper English cup of tea, milk is poured
before the tea. I do as I am told!

My time here at The Open Gate on Holy Island has been
an extemely meaningful time for me. I had no idea way
back in May that I would even be here. It has been a spe-
cial gift from the Lord to be here far longer than I had ex-
pected. It has been a very special time for me, these last
three months on Holy Island, especially the discovery of
the supply of Dr. Pepper.

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

Aidan: My Role Model

Over thirteen hundred years ago an Irish missionary bish-
op named Aidan walked on Holy Island/Lindisfarne, the is-
land in the northeast tip of England that I have been living
on since early June. His impact was so great that he has
been referred to as the apostle to the English. Last week
Christians from Holy Island, Northumbria (the surround-
ing area) and all over England celebrated St. Aidan's Week.
Numerous events throughout the week bore witness to a
great man of God who loved Jesus and walked in the pow-
er of the Holy Spirit, sharing God's love with whomever he
encountered along the way.

In 635 Aidan was sent out from Iona to found a monastery
and school in this region. He came at the request of his dear
friend Oswald, King of Northumbria, who wanted to share
the Christian faith with the people of his realm. Corman,
the previous missionary who had been sent by Iona, was
stern and hard on the people. His mission failed. Aidan pro-
posed a gentler way of evangelizing, and was sent to re-
place Corman. King Oswald gave him the island of Lindis-
farne as a base for sharing the Christian faith with the
Saxon peoples. The people loved Aidan. They experi-
enced his gentleness, humility, wisdom, compassion, purity,
and concern for the poor and sick. He is especially remem-
bered as a prayer warrior who walked everywhere he went
so he could talk with people along the way. He died August
31, 651.

I am usually at the local parish church most days of the
week for either Morning Prayer or worship. Each time I
pass by the the statue of Aidan that looks upon the ruins
of the medieval abbey. And each day I pray that God
would make me more like Aidan, that my life would be
characterized by a missionary spirit, gentleness, humility,
wisdom, compassion, purity, concern for the poor and the
sick, and a love for people I meet along the way. Lord, make
it come true.

Peace and blessings to you and yours,