IONA: The Pilgrim Way

Iona from Finnphort.

 Since I painted this the tower of the abbey

 has been capped 

and the large rock in the foreground

 has split apart along the fault line shown  here

IONA: The Pilgrim Way.

I lift my eyes to the mountain,

I trace the long finger of sea,

I set my face to the island

from whence comes a yearning to be

caught to the margins of Christendom,

where justice and peace form a core

of a love for God's earth and one's neighbour

and a longing to take to the poor

the good news that will conquer oppression,

that will set the imprisoned free,

by the power of the Spirit, ne'er ending,

who invites all, "Partake", even me!

Yes! e'en me who can walk past a beggar

or fail to be moved by the plight

of the war-worn, the famished, the dying,

or the refugee, forced into flight.

But if I wish to cast off this bondage,

which power, wealth and comfort induce,

by the grace of the Heaven-sent Spirit

this small island might help me break loose.

Other poems about Iona on this blog are
IONA: ASpecial Place in the Cosmos
IONA: A Thin Place

Bethlehem of The Isles
The Hermit's Cell and
Oran's Chapel; Late Evening

Original Introductory remarks

The week before this was written we voyaged into the outer darkness of deep space Aphelion. This returns us to terra firma. For some, this will be the time of year that they make plans for a pilgrimage later in the year. We will be going to Israel, a trip we have long promised we would make. But in the past we have made several closer (for us) pilgrimage/ holidays to the beautiful island of Iona in the Hebrides. You have to work at getting there! To Glasgow first, then by rail or road alongside exquisite lochsides and soaring bens (mountains). Then Ferry from Fort William from Oban to Mull. 40+miles across that splendid island, then a second short ferry ride to Iona itself. This poem celebrates the last stages of that journey. The 'long finger of sea' is the sea-loch Scridain which accompanies the road as you finally approach Iona Ferry.

If any readers are wondering whether to ... or not. Let me encourage you to make the long journey to the Isle of St Columba where you will find the best of Scotland in miniature - and much more. 

And here’s the rock shown in the watercolour at

the head of this post in 2019