Cloud and Fire

I loved my time on Innismore, the largest of the Aran islands off the west coast of Ireland. It is a place of amazing cliff top views, of ancient prehistoric monuments, of seal watching, of Irish song (and drink) and the mysterious ruins of the seven churches.

We also have some ruins of the ancient Celtic churches, formed on this island as centres of mission at a time when the islands were hubs of travel and commerce, when the seas and the waterways were the world’s highways, seats of learning and the intersection points between peoples.

But those times are almost forgotten, just as are the faded pathways up to these early ruined churches, and the legacy of those early celtic missionaries is all but lost.

On this church of Beanan (pictured), we have a small dedication to the man of God who was a disciple of Patrick and who died in 468AD. The pathway signs leading up to the ruin are all faded, and so far as I could tell, the island coach tours don’t take you to this thin place on the hill.

The island of innismore no longer treasures these forgotten pathways, and as I walked back down the hill with a tear in my eye, I thought about what I must do to to make known the pathways of Jesus, to be an ambassador who creates pathways of hope, forgiveness, redemption and resurrection through the gateway of Jesus; but first, I must try to remember those who have gone before me.