How do we connect?

Nick Welsh shares reflections on connection and Camas outdoor centre.

I have been musing to myself recently how many ways we as the Iona Community connect with the world. The answer is of course many and varied. We connect through our website, family groups, social media, services, guest stays, at the Welcome Centre, publications, liturgy, at Second Sunday sings. I am sure there are many ways I have missed out, but I do think the most important one of all is as individuals in the daily contact we have with people within our own communities and as passing interactions with fellow travelers and strangers.

Despite hearing it countless times it still gladdens me to hear people come into the shop and say they met someone 20 years ago who told them about the Iona Community and they are now fulfilling their dream of coming to Iona, or a friend who has met someone half way across the world who realized they had Iona in common. Most of the time, like how a prayer may be answered, we will never know the outcome of our conversations, but outcomes and influences there will be.

One of the most profound ways the Community interacts with people, and leaves a lifetime influence, is for those people who have stayed at Camas over the years. The reading below from Growing Hope, Daily Readings, epitomizes this

‘After walking up the track on the last morning, we had a special Camas reflection, where a ball of wool was thrown across to each person with a spoken memory of the week. At the end of the reflection there was a web of wool and we were all connected, as we had been during the week. Then, because we were going our separate ways, the wool was broken and we wound bits around our wrists to remember our ties. When I next saw the lads in Edinburgh at their probation hostels, they all had the wool around their wrists and said they would never be taking it off. ‘

Who knows where those boys are now, and what influence being at Camas had on the rest of their lives?

The books I am highlighting this month are

Growing Hope Daily Reading WGP Neil Paynter

Down the Track A camas Anthology, WGP Rachel McCann

The Passion, A pilgrimage of plants, Bob Gilbert and Kathy Galloway WGP to be published, all royalties going to the camas Companions appeal.

The shop is also selling cards and a tea towel from paintings of Meg Wroe’s in support of Camas.  If you would like to buy any of these please email me [email protected]