Fossils . . .

This morning, (Tuesday, June 4th, 2013) I attended Morning Prayer and Holy Communion at St. Mary's Anglican Church.  There were only about ten people present, plus the priest.  The church is ancient, sandstone, and unheated.  I can't remember a time when I was that cold in church.  Also, it is a bit of a different perspective you gain when you are not the one in charge of worship and are not pre-occupied with thoughts about the comfort of others.

After breakfast, we began the day in earnest. 

One of our retreat leaders is a retired geologist.  This morning we did about four miles to different parts of the island to understand how it was formed, how long it has been here, where it is located in relation to the mainland and the continent, and the changes that have taken place on the island over time.  We also got to see the local wildlife, including Eider Ducks, Bitterns, Sea Gulls, Wigeons, Jackdaws, Common Swifts, House Swallows, Thrushes, Kestrels, and numerous other birds.  The geologist pointed out the magma that had pushed up through the earth's surface forming the promontory on which Lindisfarne Castle is built.  He told us how the hot magma crystallized the limestone layer underneath, forming marble.  He pointed out how at one time, during the Carboniferous Period, forest floor became sea bed.  Fossils of scallops, snails, and Aaron ancestor of the octopus and squid.

After lunch, we took another hiking trip to look at features of the island that we had not seen in the morning.  This time, we concentrated more on the history of the island, its settlement by St. Aidan his twelve disciples from Iona.  Actually, Aidan's attempt at establishing a monastery was the second effort.  The first effort under Bishop Corman had failed.  

Corman returned to Iona telling of how the natives in the area were wild, unruly, and could not be converted.  Aidan commented that perhaps if Corman had treated the natives better, he would have gotten different results.  As proof positive that if you criticize the efforts of others, someone will say, "If you think you could do it better, have at it!" Aidan was consecrated as Bishop and set out for Lindisfarne.

Aidan and his monks got out into the villages and pathways, getting to know the people.  They showed concern for everyone they met, shared the Gospel when they could, encouraged the faithful when they met a believer, and got entirely different results.  Pilgrims have been coming to Lindisfarne for almost fourteen hundred years!

Tonight we closed with Evening Prayer in the chapel.  The day has been full.  The lessons have been good.

It is good to remember how profligate God is within the Creation God has made.  There is so much variety and splendor.  Why so many species of birds?  Why so many types of flowers?  Fossils are constant reminders that God's creative activity is so great that even those creatures we see semi-immortalized in stone and mineral, that had a place in the created order at one time, are no longer necessary and have passed from existence to be replaced by something else.

In the midst of all the variety and splendor, we are given eyes to see, ears to hears, hands to touch, noses to smell, and tongues to taste, appreciating the bounty God has made.  There is a partnership between Creator and the Created, between Father and child, between heaven and earth...

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein..."

"Let everything that has breath, praise The Lord!"