Author: revdbeth

I am a retired Episcopal priest after serving over thirty years in Diocese of Texas and a Benedictine Oblate of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana. I'm also an eighth generation Texan. My daughter, The Homesick Texan, has moved back home to Texas. My son and his wife live in Bend, Oregon, with my two grandsons who call me Grandma Texas.

Pilgrimage to Iona: Oh wait! It’s Thursday.

So I guess I was more lagged than I thought. At worship this morning, I discovered that it was Thursday not Wednesday. Oh. 

After a gorgeous early morning ferry ride yesterday (which I now know was Wednesday), 

followed by a loopy drive across Mull, 
and one short afternoon ferry ride across Martyrs Bay, we were home to Iona. 
When I first saw the Abbey, I was overwhelmed by the catch in my heart and the tears in my eyes.  After forty four hours of travel, I was back. 

We walked to the Abbey last night through the nunnery by moonlight. 


The first walk to the Abbey by the sea this morning was a great way to prepare for  worship. 
I was moved to tears yet again this morning as our order of worship from the Iona Abbey Worship Book was the same one we used at St. Mary’s during Lent two years ago.  With the time difference, I was struck that I was praying whilst those I loved slept. 
Words from one of our morning hymns are good words to begin this retreat:  
Before you spoke, 
before you healed, 
before you broke the bread, 
in crowds, as in the quiet place, 
you felt for where God led. 
Not to eacape, but to prepare …….

 

Pilgrimage to Iona: Scotland!

Amsterdam at 5.30 AM. 

Glasgow at 10.30 AM. 
Then a beautiful drive north and west towards Oban.  Past Loch Lomond and through Inverary, Lochgilphead, Kilmichael, Kilmartin Glen, and Kilmartin. 

There we stopped to walk prehistoric sites of standing rocks, cairns, cup and ring markings, and churches dating back to the time of St. Columba.


 And, oh yes, sheep, lots of sheep, and cows and horses with long shaggy hair. 


This morning we’re off to catch our first of the two ferries of the day. God willing, worship at Iona Abbey tonight. 

Good morning God, this is your day. 
I am your child. 
Please show me your way. AMEN 

Pilgrimage to Iona: Begun!

Whenever you read about folks’ trips to Iona, there is always conversation about how you really, really, really have to want to get there…….to get there.   Of course if it were easy, it wouldn’t be a pilgrimage. 
The screen in front of me says that I’m two hours from Amsterdam. As I look at the little screen, the icon of the plane is actually nearly over Iona. But I’m not there yet. Because it’s a pilgrimage. 
From the chair where I sat in the Atlanta airport waiting for it to be time for me to board my plane, there was a poem written in a variety of languages.               

From the seat by the window
We peer through the viewfinder to all that is visible
Ascending, as we reflect on what we left behind and what is yet ahead
……..We are in awe.

Outside my window it is black. Dark. Night. Nothing is visible. 
Not a bad thing. 
Because I’m on a pilgrimage. 

 I am the LORD…
Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you home . . .
Genesis 28:13, 15
                 

Birthday Trip to Kearney, Missouri

I 

Another year to serve God, with God’s help. 

The day started with my St Mary’s friends and several hundred guests at our annual Fall Gift Market. We started the event inviting our guests to join us in a prayer circle, and I am deeply moved, always, by the heart felt prayer requests. Then I walked the Market, greeting and following up, making a prayer list to send to our Daughters of the King. By the time I left midday, our prayer shawl chest was empty, all of our knitted shawls having been given to our guests after healing prayers. 

Then I was off to Kansas City, Missouri for my nephew’s wedding. My birthday evening was spent with much of my family at the rehearsal dinner, with fabulous chocolate cake for dessert. Happy birthday to me!

My daughter was in the midst of her book tour so, sadly, she couldn’t attend. But her tour had brought her through Houston twice, and she and I celebrated early. Her gift included a fabulous pie. Happy birthday to me!

Among all the gifts of the day, perhaps the best gift was being asked to officiate at Dominique and Nathan’s wedding. Their pastor had had to bow out less than two weeks before, and we’d spent about five hours on FaceTime over the past week doing premarital preparation. It was holy time. 

The service was held in a pasture at her aunt’s farm in Kearney outside Kansas City.  

One of the things I’m mindful of when I officiate at a wedding is that something really happens. The couple come into the liturgy and God truly does something. A powerful shift happens and they are not the same. 

Dominique and Nathaniel had this great idea that folks should gather and park at the farmhouse and then walk across the lane and down a country road to a field where the wedding would be held. It was about a half mile walk and there were cars for those who couldn’t make it the whole way. I positioned myself where the road divided in two to point the way. What better work for the priest to do?

The walk to the wedding and afterwards back was perfect. We had traveled to a place like pilgrims and returned to the party blessed. 

Happy birthday to me!