A Mug from Iona

 

Iona is a special place, one of those locations sometimes described as 'thin'. Of course, we can fully encounter God anyway, but that does not mean that there are not places which seem particularly holy or which have special significance.

A place can become so because of a moment of encounter with God. It might be a great cathedral. It might be the top of a hill. It might be somewhere, like Iona, that has become a place of pilgrimage.

Strangely, despite spending my youth and early adulthood in Scotland, I have only been to Iona once, and that just for the day with my then two small children. It was more than worth it all the same, and I hope to return some day.

The mug I bought on that visit to Iona is a reminder of that day, but also of the important role that pilgrimnage can play in the Christian journey. Whether God calls us to go across the world or just across the street, it's good to respond to that call and discover those special places and experiences that God has lined up for us.