A Taste-Testing of Ireland
Dia is Muire duit. (A traditional morning greeting means God (or God and Mary) be with you.)
On June 21st , sixteen pilgrims gathered at airports around the United States full of anticipation and excitement. We wondered what this journey might hold for us. Most of us had never met, but we all held one thing in common: our love for Asbury Theological Seminary. Now we were to embark on a Spiritual Pilgrimage through Ireland together. For eight days we traveled through a part of God’s creation and learned more than we ever expected.
As I think back over our pilgrimage, I am reminded of the conversations we had as we traveled. This trip was like a taste-testing of Ireland! We covered a lot of ground and we had experience after experience. Now when we get to go back, we’ll have a better idea of where we want to stop. One of the conversations that has come back to me several times is how young the United States is in comparison to the rest of the world. We stood in a monastery that was built in the year 909. Much of it still remains even though the monastery has been plundered and pillaged many times. We looked on with awe at the Book of Kells from the year 404. We sang the doxology in a beautiful cathedral that has stood for hundreds of years. We listened to live music in a local Dublin pub that has been around since 1198. We stood and walked where St. Patrick baptized the King of Tara and helped spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Since we returned home a common question I have been asked (and I would assume most other pilgrims have also), has been what my favorite part of the trip was. It is very hard to narrow down all we experienced into one answer, but the thing I am most thankful for is the communion of saints and being together as the body of Christ. The faithful believers who worked so hard to share the Good News throughout Ireland and taught them about the God of creation through ways they understood. This understanding, history, and theology has helped us have a better view and understanding of the goodness of creation and how we can be better stewards of the earth. Along with this, I think of the hours the monks spent carving in stone the stories of the Bible. I think of those who paved the way so that we could share in this same faith. And then I think of my fellow pilgrims, for if it were not for this Alumni trip to Ireland, I’m not sure many of us would have gotten to know each other. The other part I fully enjoyed was getting to know the Irish people. They are beautiful people who enjoy having a good time. We experienced wonderful Irish bakeries and cafes; we heard some of the best Irish music and watched some of the world-renowned Irish dancers; we tasted Irish tea, fish and chips, soups and soda bread like none other. We visited kind people who shared about their lives and in turn listened to ours. In Irish terms, we had a mighty craic (a very good time)!
We traveled all over Ireland: Dublin, Glendalough, Cork, Cobh, Killarney, Blarney, Galway… along with a day trip to Northern Ireland to the town of Downpatrick. We explored castles and gazed upon ancient and beautiful crosses. We stood in the ruins of monasteries and learned about Saint Patrick, Saint Kevin and Saint Brigid. Through all of this we grew in our walk with Christ, our relationships with one another, and in our understanding of breathing deep the love and grace of the Triune God. Each day we prayed parts of the Breastplate Prayer of Saint Patrick, and we held these words close to us as we journeyed. We came back grateful and full.
Slainte (to your health),
Carol Cooper
Bettie and I served a year as Interim Pastor at Mount Zion Free Methodist Church, Lisburn, North Ireland. John Wesley’s ministry in Northern Ireland is very significant, and interesting. Next time, you may wish to explore his “adventures” there.
Claude E. Griffith (Tom)