Islands and Thin Places – September 2026
IN THIS POST:
Isle of Harris
Isle of Iona
Isle of Man
Thin Places
Are Thin Places Biblical?
Writer's Corner - "The Truth About Joy
We recently took a cruise around Scotland and Ireland and visited some out of the way islands you've probably never heard of, Harris and the Isle of Man. In 2007, the Danes sailed a replica of a Viking longboat only 90 feet long (30 meters) through from Denmark to Ireland. It briefly stopped at the Isle of Man. During the times of the Vikings (800-1100 A.D.), it was not unusual for women to accompany men in the longboats if they wished.
Clockwise from top: three-footed Isle of Man symbol signifying they always land on their feet, weapons at Edinburgh Castle, bagpipe welcome, reconstructed Viking longboat that sailed the open ocean with 65 men and women aboard with no protection from the elements.
Isle of Harris
The island is famous worldwide for its beautiful handmade Harris tweeds. Harris is part of an island chain known as the Outer Hebrides, found off the northwestern coast of Scotland. It has a strong Christian heritage that continues to this day.
Most businesses and tourist attractions on Harris are closed on Sunday and the bus system does not operate. When a large supermarket chain arrived and tried to stay open on Sunday, the islanders quickly shut it down.
Isle of Iona
Iona is much further south than Harris and part of the Inner Hebrides. While we didn't visit Iona, it’s extremely important in Scotland’s history as Christianity spread from this island to the rest of Scotland.
In 563 A.D., St. Columba and twelve Irish monks arrived on Iona from Ireland. They established an abbey or monastery (not a cathedral because that requires a bishop) and brought Christianity to Scotland and northern England. While most of Europe was illiterate, Iona was a center of art and learning.
Isle of Man
Douglas Harbor, Isle of Man
The Isle of Man is sandwiched between Ireland and England, in the Irish Sea. You’d think England would have taken it over centuries ago, but it’s not part of the United Kingdom, although its people are British citizens.
The island is a British protectorate which means the Crown, currently King Charles, not Parliament, is responsible for the island’s affairs and has final say. Other than that, the island is self-governing with its own parliament, Tynwald.
Tynwald is the oldest parliament that has been in continuous operation and dates back a thousand years. The Isle of Man has its own laws and its own currency, the Manx pound equal to the British pound.
The Manx cat originated on the Isle of Man. A genetic mutation caused the cats to be born tailless. Isolated on an island, the gene quickly spread through the entire population.
Originally, the Celts and then the Vikings ruled the island. In feudal times it became a personal possession of the British royal family. Historically, the population did not want British laws or taxes imposed on them by force and so the Isle of Man island was never taken over by England.
Thin Places
Visiting the Isle of Man brought up ‘thin places,’ mentioned by Louise, our guide with British Guild of Tourist Guides. It was so refreshing to find out Louise was a fellow believer. She said thin places are where heaven touches Earth. Another definition is, it’s where the spiritual and material worlds collide, evoking peace, reverence, and a profound sense of awe.
One of the churches Louise took us to was Maughold Church. It’s built on the site of a monastery founded by Celtic Christians about 447 A.D. Christian pilgrims have visited the site for centuries. When the Viking King, Olaf the First (1113 – 1153 A.D.), ruled the Isle of Man, he commissioned the stone church that stands there today.
I walked into the old church and immediately felt the Holy Spirit. There was such a profound sense of beauty and peace that it brought tears to my eyes. I get embarrassed when I cry in public, so I quickly walked away from our small group. While I don’t believe in holy sites, it was clear the Spirit was present and the church was a place where true, heartfelt believers have gathered for centuries to worship the one, true God. A thin place where heaven touches Earth as Louise described.
Maughold Church and cemetery on the church grounds
Louise also showed us a large collection of Celtic crosses on the church grounds. She pointed out that there were no
Viking inscriptions on one of the crosses, only Christian symbols. She theorized it meant the possibility the cross marked the grave of a Viking who had truly been a believer. Some of the other crosses bore both Viking and Christian symbols. I guess some Vikings wanted to hedge their bets on their eternal destiny!
George MacLeod, a minister in the Church of Scotland, described the island of Iona as, “a thin place where only tissue paper separates the material from the spiritual.”
Are Thin Places Biblical?
I would argue they are. A number of sources come to mind. Jacob’s ladder where he saw the angels of God.
And he (Jacob) had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. Then behold, the Lord was standing ]above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants (Genesis 28:11-13 NASB).
Moses and the burning bush that was not consumed.
Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him (Moses) in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not being consumed. So Moses said, “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3: 2-5 NASB).
I think other sites could be included such as the Garden of Eden, Mt. Sinai, and the Temple in Jerusalem when God’s sheikinah glory rested there. Thin places probably don't have as much to do with location as they do with being sensitive to the Spirit. Anyone who is a believer has experienced the miracle of Heaven touching Earth.
No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3b NASB).
Writer’s Corner
“The Truth About Joy” by Susan Marie Graham
I’m so excited to report my fellow Lady Lit, Susan Graham, has published her second novel in her "Fruit of the Spirit Series."
This one follows Renata and Colby. Colby seems like Mr. Right but God keeps sending signals Renata doesn’t want to see. Will she stay true to the Lord or forsake everything to keep Colby?
Check out the novel at: https://susanmariegraham.com/
"Choice of Alliance" by Cynthia Zager Godwin
Semi-finalist, American Christian Fiction Writers, Speculative Category
The ebook and print version of "Choice of Alliance" are live on Amazon!
Geoengineer Lt. Keely Hollis is stranded on an uncharted planet, caught in the crossfire of a fierce interplanetary war. When she saves a resistance fighter, a fierce but intriguing man, he accuses her of working for the enemy and threatens her with death. When every choice matters, Keely must depend on nothing but her training and her wits.
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