We woke up to another beautiful sunny day in Northern Ireland. I actually have a sunburn. What wonderful weather we’ve been having! After a relaxing breakfast, we participated in a morning service of 25 minutes of silence followed by a bible verse and short service. From there we were off to Giant’s Causeway! The team was joined by AJ, Kyle and Aynna from Corrymeela. With some song singing on our way, we arrived at the Causeway. We had a guide who spoke to us through an ear phone system as we walked the path to the causeway rocks, learning about the geologic history that created these basalt column formations.
At the Causeway everyone enjoyed climbing on the rocks and around the formations. A seal in the bay watched all the people enjoying his rocks. The sun was warm and inviting helping everyone enjoy the morning. After a quick stop at the gift shop we were off to Smugglers Inn for our final team lunch with much laughter and enjoying each others company.
From there we traveled to Dunluce Castle for a tour given by Colin, a professor of archeology and environmental studies at Ulster University. He led us through the castle giving us a wonderful perspective of the history of the site and the peoples who have lived there, and how this history is reflected in the conflict found in the country today. Rod and Deb particularly enjoyed the discussions of sanitary facilities, considering their backgrounds in the environmental arena. Colin led us outside the castle walls and into a nearby field to see the archeology of the village that once stood there. We walked down the field and were actually walking down the old main road of the village. He established a strong sense of place, of who had lived there and how they had lived. After our tour, we enjoyed a little down time sitting outside drinking hot and cold drinks at the tea shop by the castle, until our bus arrived to bring us back to Corrymeela.
After a short break, we joined everyone staying/working at Corrymeela for dinner and we filled the eating area. Staff opened the gift shop for a short while so we could check it out and we then met for an evening discussion of faith and work.
Derrick, a long time member of the Corrymeela community - 51 years- discussed his life experiences and how he feels the feet take a step forward and the brain then follows in many roads to faith, peace and reconciliation. Another younger member, Ellis, also shared his life experiences and faith journey. We discussed how individual actions can help others change their perspective or be moved to also act in a more empathetic way. Members of the VIM team actively participated in a very engaging roundtable.
Our meeting had to end and most of the VIM team went to the 9:00 service. Soon Maura, her husband and daughter will be arriving for a visit of fun and laughter and we will end this full day with getting ready for our trip to Dublin tomorrow where our trip together will come to a close. What an eventful time we have all had!
Submitted by Deb Aldrich
AT THE GIANTS CAUSEWAY
AT DUNLUCE CASTLE
Evening Conversation with Derrick Willis
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