Liminal Space

One of the thrills of being on the Isle of Iona is having time. I have the spaciousness to stretch out and just be. There is no great rush to see it all, do it all, be it all. In point of fact Iona is very small you can get around it in a day or two. But to settle in and feel the place, that’s another thing altogether. I am happy to have weeks to fill with just being. Yes, I work hard in the kitchen five days a week. But I found my first days off confounding…what should I do? There are so many places to go to be quiet, to soak up the view, to contemplate nature, to play with friends. It was overwhelming to pick. And then I remembered I have time, I can go slow. Let the day unfold.

My first two days off I bounced around from one interesting conversation to the next from one view to the next, from scones to the pub. I liked learning to embrace the day and see there it takes me.

I am here to work yet I am also here to make space for God and me to connect further. I value time alone with the Divine. The rhythm of twice daily services at 9:AM & 9:PM is a gift. Short and sweet the services are barely over half an hour. Most have two songs, two readings, and a pattern I recognize after a week. The evenings offer reflections and insights from a staff member or volunteer who is leading. Every service I find something that touches me when a fresh insight. From a song lyric to a formal prayer there is always something that I have to tuck away to think of further.

My first day off I went to the library and had a morning to draw. I could just imagine a monk working in his scriptorium and creating the Book of Kells. Who knows maybe I was there in another lifetime. It sure felt familiar to be here and drawing.

These are the four drawings I’ve made since I left home on April 25th. I started out with phrases of good advice to remind me to stay grounded while I’m away from home. Then one morning I noticed every choir seat had a different pattern in front of it so I took pictures of those and encorporated them into my next drawing. Then when I had a whole day off I took my time and drew some thistles and added the affirmation of faith we’d used the previous day. Finally you see the beginnings of the next offering.

I delight in having the time and space to notice the details. It is also very sweet to worship and work and play all in a balanced way. All in one day. There is time for it all. I don’t have to stuff all my work into one place or save all my worship for one time. And I know that play and joy and goofing around with friends is equally as important as weeping over a sunset.