I’m not writing about Israel today, but I hope you’ll see the connection. Teaching in a small Christian college brought many special dividends. Students came from around the world and lived in our homes instead of in dorms. Sometimes their families also visited, stayed with us, and we became friends. When I could manage air tickets to their homelands (or had airmiles) I was part of their extended family—not a tourist. That’s my FAVORITE way to see other countries.

And my friends are kind. On one visit to Scotland I told Dianne, mother of two of my students, that one day I’d love to see the island of Iona where Irish monk St. Columba did so much transcribing and illuminating of the four Gospels in the outstanding 7^th century Book of Kells masterpiece. Eighteen years later when I returned, Dianne had remembered my wish. “Our ferry tickets are booked from Oban to Mull and beyond,” she said, and off we went.

When Vikings swept down from the north to raid and plunder, the Book of Kells was preserved by rushing it to Dublin for safekeeping where it is displayed in Trinity College Library as a priceless treasure today. I’m thrilled to have seen it twice, lovely with its breathtaking decorations in gold and silver leaf and paints made from crushed jewels.

The small cave-like structure attached to the Iona abbey is where St. Columba worked on the manuscript. There’s a large stone on the hill outside where he also sat and worked looking out over the Irish Sea on non-stormy days.

It’s something to see and connect with the places where great things happened, and with the consecrated life of someone who helped anchor and spread our faith. Columba is credited with converting Scotland.

As I bent to peek into the small structure, it suddenly glowed with beauty. My old iPhone had no special features. There was no flash, yet the room seemed alive with radiance—as if Columba had just stepped outside and would be back any moment.

Later, after touring the abbey and museum, we returned. This time we saw no special radiance—just cold stone. Yet earlier a special light had glowed for us.

Time is something God gives us to mark our life journeys, but He lives outside of it. He’s free to step in or out of time and give us glimpses of things beyond, or of long ago, or of things to come.

The verse I hear is Ephesians 4:6, “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Sunrises and sunsets contain brief glimpses of that special light. Look for it. Thank Him for the moments here and now that connect us to all He is doing in eternity.