“A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the mansions of the wicked.” Psalm 84:10

What Saint’s Day is observed in Scotland, but in few other places in Christendom?  If you guessed “St. Columba”, you’re right!  This Wednesday, June 9^th, is St. Columba Day.  Columba is the patron saint of Scotland and founder of the Abbey at Iona.  He was responsible for the evangelization of Great Britain, and even much of Western Europe. 

The story of Columba is a fascinating one. He was originally from Ireland, and had founded other monasteries there, but was forced to leave as his penance for being involved in a serious feud between clans in Ireland in which many were killed.  Thus in 563 Columba set sail for a destination that was indeterminate.  He didn’t know where he was going, only that he had to go far enough away from his home that he would never be able to return.  In Columba’s words, “Every time I would see those hills across the water I would want to go home, and one day the want would have been to great for me.”  He was accompanied by twelve companions, all monks, in a small boat (coracle), that eventually landed at the Bay of the Coracle on Iona.

When I lived at Iona I had the opportunity to go there on numerous occasions. It was a sheltered bay with a gently sloping rocky beach.  One occasion in particular was memorable.  I was part of the weekly day-long pilgrimage that traversed a good portion of the island.  We took our lunch at The Bay of Coracle.  While doing so we were asked to find two rocks, one which represented all that we would like to be rid of in our lives, and the other which represented the new start in life that this bay symbolized, as it did for Columba.  I found one rock and threw it into the sea.  It was very freeing.  The other I carried with me, but only for a short time.  For one of my co-workers and friends at Iona, Britt from Sweden, was preparing to leave the island.  She had not been on the pilgrimage, nor, as I recall, had she made it to that bay.  I recounted, as best I could, the details of both.  And then I gave her the rock that symbolized my new start in life.  For her life had also started anew there, as had the lives of so many others that came to Iona, including Columba.

There is a great deal of legend and lore associated with Columba, such as saving a man from the Loch Ness monster.  However there are certain aspects of his life of which we can be absolutely certain and that would serve us well on our journeys.  One is that sometimes the most unfortunate of life’s circumstances may open a door to a new life for us that we could scarcely have imagined otherwise.  Another is that there are times when we must follow faithfully, and perhaps even blindly, as God leads us to a new destination. And thirdly all that is required to do so is a humble, trusting faith; a willingness to be nothing more than a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord.  In fact, there is nothing better.  Following is a prayer attributed to Columba.

“Almighty Father, Son and Holy Ghost, eternal, ever-blessed, gracious God,

To me, the least of saints, to me allow that I may keep a door in paradise;

That I may keep even the smallest door, the farthest door, the darkest, coldest door, the door that is least used, the stiffest door, if so it be but in Thine House O God!  If so it be that I can see Thy Glory, even afar and hear Thy voice O God!  And know that I am with Thee—Thee O God!”

I’m considering as I write this how I might observe St. Columba day this week. Perhaps it will be by going to a place that has water, or somewhere in nature.  Or maybe I’ll go to the evening service at the Church near me called St. Columba.  I’m not sure yet.  What I AM sure of is that I’ll let the Spirit guide me.  That is keeping with the spirit of Columba.  How, dear friend, will the Spirit guide you?

Below is an icon of St. Columba made by the humble hands of the Reverend Father Lester Bundy, priest and founder of St. Columba Orthodox church in Lafayette, Colorado.