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Recently I have been living and working as a volunteer in the Iona C o m m u n i t y ’ s MacLeod Centre on the tiny Scottish island of Iona. With its commitments to working for peace and justice, the Community, an ecumenical Christian group, embraces the world in its brokenness, and welcomes visitors from across the globe. It creates a space where ethics matters, where visitors –Christian and non-Christian alike, can reflect and grow. George MacLeod, its founder, said that Iona is a 'thin place', meaning that the walls between us and heaven are weakened here. I think he is right. Iona is an inspiring place, seemingly far away from reality and the troubles of the outside world, yet in its midst.
Living in community, the walls between life and work, public and private life; By Faith Fairbairn between us, our inner-selves and our problems are thinned too. Sometimes living in community is wonderful; sometimes it is hard. Though the balance between 'doing and being', between life on the island and life back home, can be difficult to manage, it is a lovely thing when people - young and old - from all over the world come together to live with, to learn from and to serve one another.Faith Fairbairn, who served as a chorister in the Cathedral choir for many years, is nearing the end of her gap year between school and university, part of which she spent working as a volunteer in two Catholic settings for adults with learning disabilities in Poland, before going to Iona. You can find out more about the Iona Community by visiting their web pages at: www.iona.org.uk/iona_community.php
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