We said goodbye to St. Andrews today.
But before we did we had to make one more stop—St. Salvator Chapel.
Waiting inside St. Salvator Chapel, just to the right of the altar, was the pulpit from which John Knox preached his sermon on June 11, 1559, that marked the beginning of the Scottish Reformation.
We had seen Wycliff’e pulpit, now Knox’s pulpit.
Who knows, maybe years from now people will be traveling thousands of miles to see Andy Stanley’s iPad or Rick Warren’s teleprompter.
Before we leave St. Andrews I have to tell you a story. I wasn’t going to tell it, but the rest of the GSB team has insisted. They think it’s funny. I’m not sure it is.
On Day 9, after walking through the streets of St. Andrews, I had noted references to “Kate and Wills” here and there and most prominently above the sign at a restaurant indicating it was the place they met.
I saw it but didn’t think about it. Later when I heard The Wife and Mrs. H talking about “Kate and Wills” I asked, “What is Kate and Wills, a sitcom or something?” I was thinking of the sitcom Will and Grace, which I am proud to say I have never seen. They all laughed, but it was the kind of quizzical laugh where they lean back and look at you rather than lean in and laugh with you.
Mrs. H immediately noted the irony that I was able to name the date when John Knox preached a sermon during the Scottish Reformation but I didn’t know who Kate and Wills were. They all laughed and had a good time. Happy to have been the source of their entertainment, I walked on ahead to the St. Andrews Cathedral to discover more non-tabloid, Kingdom-based history.
See, I told you it wasn’t that funny.
Our only stop today on our drive from St. Andrews to Dornoch, Scotland was at Blair Castle in Pitlochry, a castle with its origins in the thirteenth century. Building started on the castle in 1269 on the lands of David Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl, while he was on crusade with Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) in Tunis. Because St. Louis is No. 6 on my list of people I would have most liked to have met, I was immediately interested.
The castle was impressive, but almost an entire floor of the castle was devoted to explaining episodes from the television series, Victoria, not to be confused with Will and Grace, which were apparently filmed here last year. I have seen as many episodes of Victoria as Will and Grace. But the rest of the GSB team were kind enough to explain the series to me.
I don’t blame the management of the castle for pandering. They are in business and they are giving the people what they want. It does seem odd to me though when entertainment history becomes more important than history. It is, I think, representative of a generation that has resigned itself to observe instead of shape history. It is ironic the generation insistent on giving participation awards is actually more interested in observing than participating, being entertained rather than leading.
Fortunately Jesus-followers, who have been tasked with the advancement of the kingdom of God on earth, needn’t be satisfied with merely being entertained about history. We have been called to shape it for King Jesus.
From the small town of Dornoch, Scotland,until tomorrow. GS