Many of you know about my journey to Iona in 2017. I flew to Great Britain with my husband where we visited York, England and then took a train north to explore Edinburgh and the Highlands of Scotland. My husband flew home from Edinburgh and I stayed behind to start my adventure to Iona, a remote island off the west coast of Scotland where I retreated for a week with Joan Anderson and 21 other women. The retreat was titled, “A Second Journey to Embrace Body and Soul.” We hiked to beaches, up hills, around rocks, next to the ocean, and into labyrinths. We pondered our roots, looked back at our lifetime experiences, and dreamed of what is ahead. It was a week that stays with me to this day. When I returned home I wanted the experience to remain in my focus as time passed so I created a Shutterfly book of my journey. The book is opened several times each year and the memories flood back. I then put together a short video using Celtic music and photos of Iona. I developed a short introduction to the video as a way of sharing my experience and have offered the program to several local groups.
Today I presented “Reflections of Iona” at Westlake’s new community center to both men and women. When the video was over, there was silence in the room and I felt that the audience had been to Iona with me. The special feelings I have for Iona as a place of serenity and joy had been shared. I hope to return to Iona someday, the small Scottish island that brings me comfort and peace, and helped me believe that I am enough.
Where is your special place? Where is the place that brings you calm and helps you believe in yourself? The fall retreat at Lakeside still has a couple of openings. Consider joining us as we stretch forward to embrace the lives we have.
