Hitting the Road Again!

Many of you know I received a grant for the Lilly Endowment Incorporated (LEI) for a sabbatical last year. My time away in the fall was indeed renewing, and I am most grateful for it. One problem: I didn’t use all the money!

When I inquired as to what to do with the leftover money, I was told that the grant was good through June 2011, and that I really ought to use it. (How often does that happen in a person’s life?)

I have made arrangements to travel again to Celtic lands, using vacation and unpaid time, to do further exploration. I expect to be closer to internet access than I was last year, and will continue to blog-- and with more frequency!

Here's where I plan to be:

August 15-22:
At St. Deiniol’s Library in Hawarden, Wales for a course on Celtic Spirituality, including visits to holy wells in the northeastern part of the country.

August 23-26:
In Lindesfarne, or Holy Isle, in England where St. Aiden, missionary from Iona, brought Christianity to the east coast of Britain.

August 27-30:
On the Isle of Skye just to soak up the beauty.

August 31-September 3:
In Glasgow with my sister Judith who is coming from New Jersey to play with me.

September 4-12:
On retreat with my sister and others on the Isle of Iona. The retreat leader is J. Philip Newell, writer about Celtic Christianity and former Warden of the Abbey on Iona.

I leave you with a blessing, written by Newell
May the deep blessings of earth be with us.
May the fathomless soundings of seas surge in our soul.
May boundless stretches of the universe echo in our depths
to open us to wonder
to strengthen us for love
to humble us with gratitude
that we may find ourselves in one another
that we may lose ourselves in gladness
that we give ourselves to peace.