We reached the top of Speinne Mor and the views were superb: Tobermory nestled below and Loch Sunart sparkled under Ardnamurchan; Rum and Eigg and the Skye Cuillins as clear as day; spinning round, Morvern with an endless row of mainland peaks above and the whole length of the Sound of Mull stretching down to Oban; round to Ben More and then Iona and its white sandy beaches; Tiree, Coll and, in the far distance, the Western Isles. It felt like everything was within easy reach. It felt like we were in the centre of it all. People travel from the central belt and beyond to Argyll to get away from it all. They even hear of Columba seeking sanctuary away from Ireland too. Sitting atop Speinne Mor, you realise that Columba was actually looking for a central hub from where his mission could radiate abroad.
The seas were the roads back then and every shoreline was in easy reach.
There was even the motorway up the great glen to Inverness and King Brude of the Picts. Then again, the message of the love of God was never to be something for the fringes of our lives – it was always meant to right at the centre.