Why "St. Cuthbert's Island"?

Saint Cuthbert was a Celtic monk who lived in the 7th century.
He received visitors at his monastery in Northumbria and was even appointed a bishop, but he yearned for the life of an ascetic. While living at the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne, he sought to spend time with the Lord whenever possible. Early on, he practiced solitude on a small island that was linked to Lindisfarne by a land bridge when the tide was low. This tiny island, known as Saint Cuthbert’s Island, was a training ground of sorts—a place to grow in faith and in love for God.

I chose to name my blog after this island for two reasons:
1) I hope that it will be a place where I can spend time alone with God, growing in my love for Him.
2) Perhaps, when the tide is low, others may find their way to this tiny island
and, by God’s grace, be blessed by what they find there.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

All Hallow's Eve

So...this is my one and only post for October. I guess it's not surprising, seeing as how I'm a creature of starts and spurts. It's not what I had intended when I began this blog, but it was bound to happen.

I plan to continue exploring the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), but who knows how long that will take.

This evening, as I write, there is a candle burning in front of my house. It burns as a witness and a commemoration. In my own small way, I wish to say that I have put on Christ. He has claimed me as His own. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

At the same time, I'd like to reclaim All Saints' Day. So, the candle burns to remember the faithful who have gone before and to announce my solidarity with them in Christ.

During the month of November, I intend to post a small quote daily from some of my favorite men and women who have loved the Lord (and others) heroically and given themselves fully to the task of loving.

Kate Tristram says:
The life of a saint is not the life of a great man or woman,
but of God's life in an ordinary man or woman.
Saints' days are not all about that saint:
but about a celebration of Christ. ...
Remembering the saints
gives us a bigger idea of the things of God.
When Elisha's servant saw the enemy chariots
(2 Kings 6:15-16), he had to have his eyes opened
so that he could see God's chariots of fire.
It was such a big view of God that Elisha had,
and now his servant could share in that.
This is exactly how the saints can help us:
if ever we feel outnumbered,
remember that we never get to see the whole church.


Thank you, God, for showing Yourself in the lives of these--Your children. May Your life flood into me, and may I too be conformed to the image of Love through the power of your Spirit.