A Moment Aside for 25 May 2021

 A Moment Aside --- 25 May 2021

 

      Iona is an island off the west coast of Scotland that has long been a place of spiritual purpose for the Christian Church. It was an ancient monastic site and a centre of what has come to be known as “Celtic Spirituality.” What that term means might take too long to discuss in a brief devotional like this. Let’s just say it’s Trinitarian, creation driven, and powerful. Note the wild goose at the bottom of the photo. In the Celtic understanding and symbolism, the Holy Spirit is seen not as a dove, but as a wild goose. That should lead to some discussion among Canadians!

 The prayer asks God to bless “to us” a number of things. In a sense, the prayer asks God to remind the one praying of the goodness of creation and the people within it. The prayer also asks that God’s image within each of us be made known to us. A blessing is asked on time as well.

Creation, friends, God’s presence, and time are all blessings and to see them as such leads to gratitude and a spirit of taking nothing for granted.

Gratitude, humility, openness, and acceptance of the wild Spirit of God capture the soul of this prayer and, most likely, the soul of Iona, its founders, and its community.