Our first stop in Ireland wasn't for a pint of Guinness, but for a taste of history; we sought a monastery established in the 6th century. At Glendalough we were enchanted and drawn deeply into the mystical beauty of the Irish country and Celtic Christianity. What struck me was the swirling, biting wind stripping the golden leaves and causing them to dance in the air all around us. The bubbling brook led us to the ruins as we took the trail through the moss covered woods.
So like my life, I thought- ruins, broken down buildings, places where there had been invasions and property stolen. As I stood steeped in mystical beauty I realized that ruins can be made holy; the monks from centuries ago prayed through the violence of the intruders interrupting their holy lives. Could I do the same? Could I look back on ruins and pray through them asking the Holy Spirit to bring life and holiness from loss and destruction?
Medicine from Ancient Writings:
We shall go forth to our business with much security if we have made God propitious by prayer; this way we shall have no enemy. Or if we do, we shall laugh him to scorn, having God propitious. There is war in the market place; the affairs of every day are a fight, they are a tempest and a storm. We therefore need arms: prayer is a great weapon. We need favorable winds; we need to learn everything so as to go through the length of the day without shipwrecks and wounds."
St John Chrysostom 4th Century Homilies on Hebrews Homily XIV NPNF1; 9.437
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