J2A Greece Pilgrimage 2008

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Our island home

Written entry by Carly Wright follows images

The line of pilgrims stretches up a steep incline


We break bread on a large boulder in Columba's Bay


These are the stones we used to represent our turning from things old and taking on things new


Near the end of our pilgrimage on the island we rest on a high hill


A paradise off the west coast of Scotland


"Imagine that your task in the labyrinth is to find the center. When in doubt, remember your original intention for the journey; recall your purpose; reinstate your vow; rekindle your fire by doing something passionate; rediscover the thread that led you to your pilgrimage in the first place."-Phil Cousineau

Today was a day for the body and the soul. Although we only made it to the closing prayers of the 9 o' clock Abbey service, I feel that in no way was our day lacking in spiritual encounters. No way could any of us have foreseen or expected any of the beauty we came across today. Seven miles may seem like an eternity on a sidewalk, but as our group joined so many other pilgrims on their way for a pilgrimage hike around the island, shin splits and back aches eased and time slipped away. It's hard to describe how this hike affected us as a whole, but I know that the beauty of the terrain had all of us in awe. There was more green than I had ever seen in my life, and rocks that had formed way before any life on this planet. Even with the bog in our boots it was “brilliant” as Mandy, one of the workers of the hostel, would say. But the land wasn't all that impressed me on today's journey. Relationships were built along the way between the different pilgrims. Some were short lived such as a conversation between fellow Americans just until you have to step over the sty and change your pace. Others may last much longer, including the groups new bond with a familiar older man, although we don't even know his name (a new trend I've been experiencing). It was easy to connect with someone whose journey has seemed so similar to ours, as we've spotted him in front of us at the church in Oban, again at the Ceilidh, and finally connecting with him on our hike. Ellen gave him a bookmark which she had made and as he read the lyrics to “On the Loose” his face lit up and told her “You are certainly at the Iona pace, on the loose.” And later on the beach of St. Columba's bay I bumped into him as he was finding green Iona marble in the water to give to his new friend, Michelle. As we left the bay all the pilgrims found two stones, very beautiful stones. In one we invested all of our negative energy, all that we would like to turn away from or leave behind as we headed back and tossed it into the water. In the other we invested all that we would like to take with us on our journey. It was goodbye to opening my mouth instead of my eyes and hello to living in a moment where I would experience all I can... as well as the beginning of me asking new people the very simple question, “What is your name?”

As we settled back into the hostel we gathered round for a reflection that turned into a wonderful discussion of everyone's labyrinths, Taylor's most despised part of pilgrimage. Everyone seemed to be having some kind of labyrinth whether it was just from a lack of sleep or a lack of patience and it was great to realize that none of us were alone. But the big moment came after finally admitting that we've tried to take everything in and change our minds and lives with this short experience, and discovering that it might not work that way. I will never forget when Taylor and I both said what we've been holding in “I'm just not getting it.” Then we all realized that this really isn't about being hit over the head with the great “IT” but rather living the moment while you can and maybe once we look back on all we've done, we can say “AHAH! That's It.”

Carly Wright

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