5/11/11
This morning we did our Team Tasks and had breakfast. I should probably tell you that I am an "Otter" and our task is to set up breakfast, clean the dishes, and chop vegetables for the rest of the day. The monastic life is very interesting and in some ways very purifying. It is nice to contribute to the good of the community and, as they say on Iona, even our work is worship.
This afternoon was wonderful! We took a trip to Staffa, an uninhabited island about an hour boat ride away from Iona. The trip was rough in the little fishing boat they had us on. I even got a little seasick headed there. We went to Staffa for two reasons: 1. To see Fingal's Cave and 2. To see the puffins. Apparently the puffins nest out at Staffa for only a few months and the rest of the time they are out at sea. Also apparently they love people and will come up and be right next to you when they see you. So, when we got to the island we walked up to the top of the steep stairs and began to walk across the island to the furthest bluff. The puffins were in the water and we sat down. They began to fly around but really never landed. Turns out the cormorant or some other kind of bird was about and they scare away the puffins. So, while Jen and John stayed and watched the puffins I hiked it (VERY QUICKLY) to the total other side of the island to see Fingal's cave. It really was remarkable. Then we made it back to the boat and had a rough, but not quite as sick ride back.
When we got back it was immediately dinnertime followed by the Community Concert at the Mac (the MacLeod Center). That was interesting. After that we had a worship led by guests at the Mac called "Creative Space" We used rocks that symbolized our stories. We gave our stories to God and on the way out took other people's rocks to pray for their stories. It was a meaningful service.
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