Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:1-4
Scattered among Scotland’s bucolic land are at least thirty abbeys and monasteries. These gems, often off the beaten path, date back to the Middle Ages. It’s incredible they are still standing! Built of sandstone, they have stood the test of time, multiple wars, and declining budgets. I had the privilege of visiting six of these distinguished structures on a recent trip to the Lowlands.
Dryburgh Abbey is located in the Scottish Borders outside of Melrose on the banks of the River Tweed. Built in 1150 for the Premonstratensian Order, Dryburgh Abbey has a varied history with assorted accounts of being burned by troops and later restored. Monks lived, worked, and worshiped here for 400 years. For the next 200 years, the abbey was deserted and began to decay. Efforts in the late 1700’s created a peaceful garden from the ruins.
Today, Dryburgh Abbey is missing its roof and several major walls. But interestingly, the chapter house, used as a meeting place by the monks, still remains. I had the privilege while there to meet in the chapter house with my fellow travelers. Singing “Amazing Grace” together within those sacred walls, with the echo of our voices enhancing our choral talents, was calming, healing, and absolutely worshipful.
Sometimes we are like Dryburgh Abbey. While our exteriors may (or may not!) have stood the test of time, our hearts have experienced the fallout of numerous battle zones and losses. We are still standing, but we’re broken on the inside. We feel hollow, not whole.
Healing begins in many ways. Worshiping the Lord together is a soothing balm to our souls. Just like the affinity felt through song in that chapter house, we experience the power of God’s love and grace when we first connect with Him and then with others. The richness of community yields a harvest of hope and healing. Together, we can experience the healing power of God’s truly amazing grace. May it be so!
Almighty God, You alone are worthy to be praised. May I sing Your praises and worship You with my sisters and brothers in Christ so that Your Name will be lifted up and our hearts may be healed. Thank You for Your healing power that comes through community with You and with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Text and photo copyright © 2016 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Dryburgh Abbey, Dryburgh, Scotland.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
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