October 13, 2026
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~ Matthew 11:28
September was a busy month of travel, too busy.
One Iona memory kept coming to mind: our pilgrimage within a pilgrimage to Columba Bay. It was an exhilarating, treacherous, challenging, stunningly beautiful experience.
Our five mile round trip trek took us past the golf course, past several bogs, down a steep slope, past sheep to the bay where Columba landed along with a few companions in a small boat, not much bigger than an over-sized snow disc made of wood. With one oar, no navigational tools they fled Ireland for their lives.
Tossed by winds and currents their goal was to get to a place where they could no longer see their homeland. Tradition tells us that they landed at the bay on Pentecost, 563 CE. He climbed the rock hill visible on the left in the photos below, looked toward Ireland, then turned his back to home, letting go of the past.
After a time of prayer, reflection, and an invitation to imagine what we might want to let go in this sacred place, we enjoyed a picnic lunch and then had time to explore.
The tiny specks of white are sheep grazing at Columba Bay.
I explored the rocky beach, collecting my thoughts and more rocks than I’d ever be able to carry home. I turned my back to the water and tossed excess rocks over my shoulder, letting go of worries, concerns, the junk no longer needed.
Hill on the right is where Columba turned his back to the past.
I realize now that I need to get rid of my inclination to over-schedule, to say “yes”, to ignore my very real need for margins, for space and in-between time. Time to be and not do.
The first thing Jesus says in Mathew 11:28 is “Come to me”. I never heard those three words that now whisper in my inner self. It’s profoundly simple wisdom.
Today, I set the intention to come to Jesus in prayer, to pause, listen and discern before diving into good things that might not be best for my body and soul. Not just a few minutes or hours, at least a day before diving in. Feel free to hold me to it.
With love,
Anne
