Category: Edinburgh

Climbing Arthur's Seat

3/13/2024

Last week I climbed Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. I had the support, both physical and mental, of my son and family--hands to hold and guidance about the next path to take. I knew it would be a challenge, but that I could do it, and that I wanted to. I knew I wouldn't fall and that I would make it to the top. Although I wasn't conscious of God as I was climbing, God's presence was in the beauty of the climb. It wasn't until I breathed in the view from the summit that I experienced gratitude and thanked God.

But my story is not the only story I want to tell you. Yesterday I heard the story of a friend who fell climbing around a castle ruin in Scotland last August. He broke his leg, ended up in the hospital, and came home to surgery. I'm sure he wasn't thinking he would fall, I'm sure he was careful, I don't know if he was aware of God as he explored. Did it cross his mind to be grateful and thank God after he fell? Would I? Would you?

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St. Cuthbert's graveyard

3/8/2024

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Wandering about St. Cuthbert graveyard. It is the site of one of the earliest church in Edinburg, although the present church dates from the 18th century, as do most of the graves. The gravestones proclaim lives well-lived, memorialized by living family members, parishioners, or fellow tradesmen. Remembering the individual was sacred.

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Finding Jesus in Edinburgh

3/4/2024

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In cased you missed it, I'm in Edinburgh.  Other than 'Quotes' and 'Word and Image' my postings have become sporadic in the past couple of years--I know, I know. Maybe it is because my faith journey has been intense, boundless, comforting, all-consuming, personal…all of that and more. I feel less need to put it into words or to share it. Some journeys we take with others, some alone. This feels more alone with God.
      I am writing this from Edinburgh, where I am on a week long journey with my son and his family. Lots of fabulous trips around the city and beyond. And yet, I have time to journey alone.
      Yesterday I attended 9:30 Eucharist at St. Giles Church on the Royal Mile.

At the Edinburgh Castle in St. Margaret's Chapel there was the stained glass window of Jesus in the boat with his disciples.

Wherever I go, Jesus appears.

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Who is God at St. Cuthbert's?

6/16/2019

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St. Cuthbert’s Church is located at the west end of the Princes Street Garden. To the south, towering above, is Edinburgh Castle at the end of the Royal Mile in Old Town. To the north is New Town with its Georgian homes and private gardens.
    St. Cuthbert’s represents both the old and the new Edinburgh. History has it that a church has been standing at the site since 850 CE. Today it is an active parish church of the Church of Scotland.
     I love to walk about St. Cuthbert’s graveyard, reading the headstones and wondering, “Who were these people?” Over the years new sections have been added to the graveyard, providing extra intrigue and mystery.
    Yesterday as I was wandering about, I was distracted by a few garbage bag bundles left here and there; then when I looked around a low wall, I was startled to see scattered trash on the ground. Around another corners a man was coming out of tent.
     St. Cuthbert’s has been a sanctuary throughout the centuries and now it is one for homeless people!
     In such situations we are apt to ask, “Where is God?” But Krish Kandiah, in God is Stranger: Finding God in Unexpected Places, suggests we ask, “Who is God?” And so I ponder: Who is God for these homeless people? For the administrative staff of St. Cuthbert’s? For me, a tourist wandering through? (I refrain from taking pictures of homeless people.)

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Heartfelt service in Edinburgh

6/2/2017

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     Yesterday I attended the 12:30 Communion service at St. John’s Episcopal church here in Edinburgh. The church is located at the west end of Princes Street Gardens and adjacent to the Parish of St. Cuthbert, the oldest Christian site in the city. The service was held in the Mary Chapel, with four of us in attendance. And yet, it was the most intimate of services. The rector offered many categories of prayers and left time for us to pray through our hearts.
     There is something comforting about the familiarity of the Communion service from the Book of Common Prayer, regardless of the Rite chosen for the day. Although I am not Episcopalian, I have attended Eight O’clock Eucharist often enough to allow the words into my heart. This morning these words came to me: Make in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.
     After the service, as I walked through the garden, a renewed sense of the meaning of heartfelt came to me.

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Queen Street Garden

5/31/2017

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I am writing in the Queen Street Garden, a private garden for those living on the block, across the road from my apartment. I know it is a secret garden because I have a key to enter.
As I sit here, God is present amidst the trees and flowers and the fairy wind, and in the songs of the birds. Although I cherish this time alone time with God, I am aware of the privilege of being here in this secret garden on this sunny day. Very grateful. God’s grace abounds.

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Climbing Arthur's Seat

St. Cuthbert's graveyard

Finding Jesus in Edinburgh

Who is God at St. Cuthbert's?

Heartfelt service in Edinburgh

Queen Street Garden

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