FBC family, it’s my joy to begin sharing with you some of the plans coming together for my upcoming renewal leave. As I shared in last week’s Update, I am prayerful that each of you will find your own souls refreshed in surprising ways this summer.
Iona.
The word itself evokes a deep breath, a hand to the heart, a turning inward. This small island, bathed in the ever-changing light of the Hebrides, is a place where the earth itself seems to hum with a deep, ancient song that resonates in the soul.
When the Irish monk Columba and his twelve companions stepped onto the rugged beauty of Iona in the 6thcentury, they weren't merely seeking refuge, but sowing seeds of a faith that would blossom for centuries to come. Widely known today as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland, through the centuries Iona has attracted many thousands of pilgrims on their own spiritual journeys.
For me, this pilgrimage to Iona is not about ticking a box on a bucket list. It's about shedding the layers, the noise, the constant busyness that often defines life in Washington. It's about surrendering to the rhythm of the waves, the bleating of the sheep on the hillside, the slow, steady pace of my own breath.
My heart’s intention for the time on Iona is to give myself fully to stillness, more silence, and deep listening for the voice of the Beloved in this place the Celts call “The Cathedral of earth, sea and sky.”
To Be a Pilgrim
Maybe you've never considered yourself the "pilgrimage type." Maybe visions of dusty roads, cold monasteries and obligatory silence don't exactly spark joy.
But a pilgrimage doesn't have to be some other-worldly adventure. In truth, every day offers an opportunity to be a pilgrim.
A quiet moment in your tiny, urban garden.
Holding a baby.
An unhurried walk in the park.
These can become doorways to a deeper presence. As you walk, letting the rhythm of your steps connect you to the earth—are you present? Do you feel the cool grass beneath your feet, the warmth of the sun on your face?
There is an inherent holiness in the ordinary: the miracle of a blade of grass pushing through the earth. The way sunlight dances on dust motes. The simple act of human connection.
This is the essence of pilgrimage: not some grand escape, but a way of seeing the sacred woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. To be a pilgrim is to slow down, pay attention, and open oneself to Divine Presence in this moment.
So, friends, where will your pilgrimage take you today? Maybe it's a stroll on the National Mall, a cup of tea savored in silence, or simply taking a few deep breaths before you walk into your next meeting.
Wherever you are today, may you find yourself a pilgrim on this sacred journey and may you discover Holy whispers waiting to be heard.
In the Great Love,
PS: In the spirit of Iona, I leave you with this timeless Gaelic blessing:
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ,
of Christ the light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ to you.