Finding belovedness in Celtic streams 

"White cow, don't make yourself miserable with what's to come, or not to come."

Image

The words of 13th-century Persian poet Rumi seemed an unlikely starting point for a Christian retreat. But for the Rev. Jeff Eddings, they perfectly captured the anxious restlessness many ministry leaders bring to their work — and pointed toward the gentler wisdom of Celtic spirituality. 

On Nov. 10-11, approximately 35 leaders, attendees and friends of new worshiping communities gathered virtually three times daily for a Celtic spirituality retreat sponsored by 1001 New Worshiping Communities, a movement of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Led by Eddings, associate for coaching and spiritual formation with 1001 New Worshiping Communities, the retreat invited participants to explore John Philip Newell's book "Listening to the Heartbeat of God" and discover how ancient Celtic Christian traditions speak to contemporary ministry challenges. 

A different starting point 

The retreat's structure reflected Celtic rhythms of prayer, with sessions at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern time. Participants used prayers from the Northumbria Community's "Celtic Daily Prayer" book and engaged in contemplative practices between sessions, including walking meditations and creative prayer writing. 

From the opening session, it became clear this exploration would challenge familiar theological frameworks. While Augustine emphasized original sin and human depravity, Celtic teacher Pelagius insisted that "to look into the face of a newborn is to look at the image of God." 

For many participants, this shift proved profound. "I felt very intimate and personal, very close to God when you say your beloved — it builds a relationship," one participant reflected during the retreat's first gathering. 

Another noted the difficulty of the reframing: "It was easier for me to say I was beloved rather than good. That's where I had the difficulty." 

Nature as divine revelation 

Celtic spirituality emphasizes that "God's Spirit dwells" not just in humans but in animals, birds, insects and fish — all of Creation reveals divine presence. This theme resonated deeply with participants. 

The Rev. Jenelle Holmes from Ormewood Church in Atlanta described growing up in Washington state: "Being outside was the first place I experienced God. And so later in life, finding a way of being Christian that not just accepted that, but was built on it, was very refreshing for me." 

The retreat incorporated this emphasis through contemplative practices. Participants were invited on phone-free walks to notice "the manifestation of God" in Creation, then to sit in silence for five minutes outdoors. 

Wrestling with theological tensions 

Not all participants found the Celtic perspective easy to embrace. Miriam Koo, a psychotherapist and a new worshiping community organizer in Hyde Park, New York, voiced concerns that emerged throughout the retreat: "I have a question: how is this spirituality going to answer evil? Because some people are really born with evil nature, like a sociopath. It's a brain thing you cannot change." 

Others wondered about boundaries. During one breakout session, the Rev. Katie Kinnison, founder of Gathering and pastor at Hilliard Presbyterian Church in Ohio, reflected on her experience: "I've been thinking about how far you can stretch as a heretic before you have to be in a different group ... Where is the line?" 

The Rev. Terence Dougherty, pastor of Ocean View Presbyterian Church in Delaware, found the Celtic approach liberating for his emerging ministry: "I have a group that has started a Walkers and Waggers service before our Sunday service ... It's become a place of deep spirituality and deep connection. I love it.” 

Two cows in a field 

Image

One of the retreat's most memorable moments came when Eddings shared a personal meditation comparing Rumi's anxious white cow — perpetually worried about tomorrow's grass — with the gentle Highland coo he encountered in Scotland, characterized by calm steadiness and trust. 

Oladotun Akinnubi, an associate pastor of Grace Sanctuary in Cold Lake, Canada reflected: "The first poem resonated with me .. It reminded me about Scripture that talks about casting our cares upon God because God cares for us." 

The meditation prompted participants to consider which "cow" they embody in their ministries and lives — the anxious one consumed by scarcity thinking, or the trusting one present to God's provision. 

Finding permission to be human 

For ministry leaders accustomed to perfectionism, the Celtic emphasis on embracing both light and shadow proved liberating. The Rev. Ebenezer Alonge, organizing pastor of David’s Court Ministry International, observed: "There is a tendency to want to turn towards perfectionism where you don't feel that anything is wrong. You're never anxious, you're never troubled. But I think on the whole, life is about positives and negatives ... The last line — 'Two cows in a field, which will I be today?' — gives yourself the liberty not to be perfect." 

As the first day concluded, participants carried forward an invitation Eddings had posed at the opening: What grace were they seeking? Responses included peace, gentleness, rest, goodness, the leadings of the Spirit, and as one participant wrote, "the need to be breath." 

In Celtic spirituality's ancient streams, these modern ministry leaders discovered permission to embrace their own belovedness — and, perhaps, to extend that same grace to the communities they serve.