Window To Heaven
These prayer candles stand in the corner of St. Oran’s Chapel on the grounds of Iona Abbey on the isle of Iona in Scotland. As I contemplated this image, many things were going through my mind, not least of which that this room has stood here essentially unchanged in this remote place since some 600 years before the formation of my homeland. That’s a long time, from my perspective, but that made me wonder how many prayers had made their way to God’s ears from here… how many candles had been lit? The window does seem to incline toward Heaven.
It’s difficult as an American to fathom the history of this place. Standing here, I realized I was from a continent and a millennium away from the ones who first prayed to a real and relevant God in this spot... yet, I imagine their prayers were much the same as mine, that God would intervene on our lives and affairs in some providential way. I’m not one for lighting candles for expression, but it does make me realize there were others here before me with needs that only God can provide. Matthew 18:20 came to mind, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” I seconded their prayers.
The Abbey at Iona was established when St. Columba came to Iona in 563 from Ireland with twelve companions, and founded a monastery. From this tiny island, Christianity spread to Scotland… and also the world, as Christianity would likely have been stifled had it not been for the efforts of those out of Ireland like St. Columba and St. Patrick to eventually affect the minds of such notables as John Knox. As I’m looking at the image, another from Ireland comes to mind, a dear friend I met first through Flickr, then in the flesh during this trip… if I could, I would light a candle for her here, so that others may know, and pray for her also.
Window To Heaven
These prayer candles stand in the corner of St. Oran’s Chapel on the grounds of Iona Abbey on the isle of Iona in Scotland. As I contemplated this image, many things were going through my mind, not least of which that this room has stood here essentially unchanged in this remote place since some 600 years before the formation of my homeland. That’s a long time, from my perspective, but that made me wonder how many prayers had made their way to God’s ears from here… how many candles had been lit? The window does seem to incline toward Heaven.
It’s difficult as an American to fathom the history of this place. Standing here, I realized I was from a continent and a millennium away from the ones who first prayed to a real and relevant God in this spot... yet, I imagine their prayers were much the same as mine, that God would intervene on our lives and affairs in some providential way. I’m not one for lighting candles for expression, but it does make me realize there were others here before me with needs that only God can provide. Matthew 18:20 came to mind, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” I seconded their prayers.
The Abbey at Iona was established when St. Columba came to Iona in 563 from Ireland with twelve companions, and founded a monastery. From this tiny island, Christianity spread to Scotland… and also the world, as Christianity would likely have been stifled had it not been for the efforts of those out of Ireland like St. Columba and St. Patrick to eventually affect the minds of such notables as John Knox. As I’m looking at the image, another from Ireland comes to mind, a dear friend I met first through Flickr, then in the flesh during this trip… if I could, I would light a candle for her here, so that others may know, and pray for her also.