May 2nd & 3rd: To Edinburgh and Back

I'm not sleeping. Not sure why, but I haven't gotten more than 5 hours of sleep since I arrived in Scotland.

I woke up at 4am on Thursday, wrote for 3 hours, and decided to play golf. It's one of the nice things about Stonehaven--there is a traditional links course that sits high on the cliffs just outside of town and while it's not a "championship" course (it's a par 68), it's stunning to look at and to play. Several holes are set up to play over cliffs. It's so fun. I couldn't get a cab at 7am (not sure why), so I slung the golf bag over my shoulders and biked to the course. Because I was the first one out at 7:45am, I was done by 10:15. Plenty of time to shower, write for 2 more hours, and get the train to Edinburgh.

I arrived in Edinburgh around 5PM and met up with old friends from seminary, Katie & Haddon. They have been living in Edinburgh for about 2 years and love it there. They showed me around, made me dinner, took me to a brilliant Indian breakfast spot, and walked with me around the city, telling me what they've come to love (healthcare, for one).

The view from their apartment in Newtown:

Royal Botanic Garden:

The castle:

Old friends:

There is so much to like about Scotland: trains, cities that are walkable, cars that pay attention to bikes, the Botanic Garden is free.

I'm grateful to Katie and Haddon for hosting me so generously. It's so helpful to connect with people you've known for 20+ years--people who knew you before you were ordained, before the labor of the church turned you into a "pastor" (and all that comes with it). It's also nice to be with people who still care about the church and are actively trying to give it a future that is worthy of the inherent beauty that lies in the story of Jesus.

I left Edinburgh for Stonehaven late in the afternoon Friday and couldn't shake the chills. Apparently, now I'm sick.