As we walked across the pasture to morning worship at the Abbey, I heard a distant beep beep beep. As we got closer it sounded louder and louder, much like the fire alarm that had gone off during worship Thursday evening when incense filled the Abbey. Apparently they are very serious about fires here on Iona. We were bustled out with great haste on Thursday night.

When we entered the Abbey today by our usual back door, not a candle was lit, and the space was empty and quiet except for the fire alarm. We could see people gathered outside and joined them, much to the horror of one of the Iona community who, on seeing us come from inside the church, went to stand by the side door to prevent others from entering the back way.

There was laughter and conversation as the cold wind blew, and fire fighters came in and out, unable to find the source of the alarm. There was talk about praying outside, but after yet one more false alarm, we were in our places near the 9 AM start.

I am mindful this day of the way the Holy Spirit is with us whether we hear the fire alarm or not, whether we feel the bite of the wind or not.

After worship today, I went to sit in the Quiet Corner, that side chapel reserved for silent prayer. Everytime I go in there, my heart feels the blanket of prayer that seems to never leave that space.

As I sat there in prayer, I heard the sound of wild geese out the window. Fitting, somehow, since the Iona community has as its symbol of the Spirit a wild goose.

Fire. Wind. Wild geese.

The Holy Spirit is with us.

As we sang this morning,

“Give me courage when the world is rough
Keep me living though the world is tough;
Leap and sing in all I do
Keep me traveling along with you.
And it’s from old that I travel to the new
Keep me traveling along with you.”

There was a big storm in the night–howling, screeching wind and pounding rain. It was good to be inside.

On Iona, the ground is always wet and the paths always have puddles, but the walk to the Abby for morning worship had to be done with extra care today. One misstep on slippery rocks or into a puddle would get the day off to a not so good start.

So I walked towards worship with extra attention and care. Mindfully. Prayerfully.

I’ve been trying to live all the minutes of my day with more attention and care. Mindfully. Prayerfully.

The walk to and from worship as the sun rose once again over this wee island began a rhythm which I hope, I pray, will be my spiritual practice for the rest of the day.

Mindfully. Prayerfully.

Oh. And I didn’t slip or fall.

Yesterday was one of those rare sunny all day long days on Iona, and my friend and I took a walk across the island. The small paved road turns into a gravel road which turns into a path which ends at the sea. The shore is covered in extraordinary rocks, all colours, large and small, all worn smooth by water and wind. Like baptism and the Holy Spirit.

It is a custom on Iona to take one of those rocks and throw it into the sea, throwing with it those things we want God to help us let go of in our lives. The tossing of the rock is the prayer.

I carefully chose my prayer rock and gave God all that was hurting in my heart and threw it into the waters of the blue sea.

As is also the custom, as I walked from sea to shore and back to the path, I chose one rock to take with me to remind me of new beginnings in Christ.

Today we hike to the north end of the island to yet another beach. Along the way, the plan is to scale the highest point on Iona, all three hundred feet. Rain or shine we walk and see what God has in store.

As St Augustine said, “All shall be Amen and Alleluia.”

The sun is streaming in the window as I sit enjoying a cappacino.

I had an email from a member of my parish who thought she might be intruding on my Sabbatical if she responded with a comment to my blog. Absolutely not!!!! It’s great to know someone is reading these wee iPhone blogs.

It is a walk by the sea up three hills, across three streams, and through three gates to take the short cut for morning worship at the Abbey.

There are three houses of worship on the Isle of Iona (Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic, and Iona Community) which schedule their worship so that a pilgrim can attend all six services a day. I’ve been a bit more selective so far–choosing one morning and one evening worship each day.

There are many other moments and places to stop and be with God. It is a Sabbatical after all. Today I’ll be using a book written by a member of the Iona Community, Around a Thin Place, as my devotional guide. I’ll be hiking to the crossroads, Machair, and Hill of the Angels–and whatever adventures God has in store.