Sunday, May 10, 2015

Bardsey or Bust!

After a night wrapped in the gentle embrace of the beauty of St.Hwywn's church in Aberdaren and absorbed into the joy and abundant "croeso" (welsh word for welcome) of Val Wood, church warden, her husband Chris and Susan Fogarty who led us in reflections of R.S. Thomas' poetry, we awoke to THE threshold of our pilgrimage.
Bardsey Island, the Island of 20,000 saints was our destination and apparently our destiny today. St. Cadfan is said to have established the first monastic community on this Island in the 6th century. Since that time this remote and pristine island off the coast of Wales has been a place of prayerful longing. It's location makes it difficult and sometimes dangerous to reach because of the quickly changing weather and tidal currents. For centuries Bardsey became a Pilgrim's destiny, with Christians establishing Pilgrim routes that led them on many days journey to the shoreline of Wales and then to the Threshold of the dangerous crossing to this sacred and beautiful Island.

Today we would stand on that threshold and be blessed with the ONE day in 7 days that was safe enough to take the boat ride across to Bardsey! We launched from the shores of Aberdaron and took the very very rough journey across the sea. We arrived safely in two shifts and stepped on that beautiful Island. Our pilgrims walked the island offering their prayers and in the Celtic spirit engaged, embraced, and communed with the beauty of the natural order of which we are but one thread of God's amazing tapestry. The skies cleared, the sunshine bright! The birds of the air flew with delight around us, the herds of sheep gently grazed in open meadows. The wildflowers burst open with bright colors on the hillsides and the sea lions on the shore swam with delight and barked their happy song.
We gathered then around the Celtic cross that marks the remembrance of generations of saints and there we joined them in the prayers of the ages the Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of the ages. We celebrated Eucharist there, rightly offering our thanks for all that God has given us. It struck me as we said the words of the Lord's Prayer that I was completely in union, communion with my fellow
pilgrims and all those many pilgrims who have stood on that very Island opening their lives and offering them in love and trust. If ever a time I have come to an awareness of that Celtic notion of "thin space" where heaven and earth seem to be touching this was it! Jesus has called us here! Jesus himself has called us here and how moving it is to be in community with these fellow pilgrims who like so many before has travelled days and many mikes because of this call!

Below are two reflections of Our Pilgrims written before the Bardsey experience. Expect more reflections about the Bardsey experience as our Pilgrims reflect upon it.


Tears, written by Meg Seltzer

Today on our way to the Bardsey Island boat launch, Tony encouraged us to think of those with us, those who aren't with us and those in the nearer presence to God...and tears came.
Tears come easily for me...tears of joy, tears of sadness, tears of regret, tears of happiness, tears of opportunity passed and opportunities yet to come, tears of loneliness, tears of inclusion and exclusion, tears of love, tears of gratitude. Tears come easily for me...and I thank God for that.




                             The Gifts of God,  written by Pam Calabrese

A spiritual journey to refresh our inner soul,
Restore our reflections, to feel and experience God's power.
The tranquility of the earth, sky, and sea.
The gifts of God.

                         Tears come easy. Written by Meg Seltzer


No comments:

Post a Comment