Cuthbert, a 7th century Christian monk and mystic, is associated with a “tidal island” called Lindisfarne. Twice daily, rising tides separate the island from the mainland. Then, receding tides reconnect the land with the mainland, and activities between the two resume. Cuthbert often spent time on the island alone with God during the times of separation, afterwards returning to model gentleness and hospitality with his community.

Ebb and Flow: Community and Solitude

Lindisfarne, an island of both doing and being,
chronos and kairos—
an island that permits and celebrates
ebb and flow,
connection and isolation,
an island that proclaims both doing and being
as nature’s teaching gift to all.

Cuthbert’s island resonates within me as a true symbol of foundational, God-inspired living.
Its image helps explain the polarities that draw me:

—one to the noise and hustle of community life, invigorated by the energy and activity of movement and building of dreams

—one to the quiet, inner times away from the crowds (or at least limited to one or two like-minded quiet travelers)

Imbalanced times are the most distressing—those times when I get stuck, immobilized, in one of the two extremes. In the first, the noise of daily living is too much, drowning out my ability to hear the still, small Voice. Or, conversely, there are times when it can be too quiet for too long, leaving my anxious thoughts room to spring forth in full array.

So there it is – a spiritual call for balance, on an island that sounds like a great place to call home—
for God is there.

And, indeed, my heart is such an island.

—Virgil Fry