One thing that frequently recurs to my mind is how quickly time passes. In that swift passage of time the events, places and people that are the special focus of our lives become our past, our history, and our fond memories. On the ongoing journey of life, I think it is important to pause, reflect, and record experiences. It is nearly a year since I shared one of my memories here. Like everyone else I collect memories over time, which define the person I am. I love being transported back to the lively days as a Glasgow School of Art student. Those memories were mostly long past, recalling a happy youth and therefore had the benefit of aging with the mature cushioning of hindsight. Through this I can recapture places and spaces sadly now gone. Primary among these was the masterpiece by architect, designer, and artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, destroyed by two fires, the first a decade ago. I am ever a positive optimist and continue to live in the hope that, our "alma mater", the amazing building we loved so dearly and called the "Mack" will rise again, an architectural phoenix from the ashes.
In the more recent time that has past, for example the last ten months, a great deal of consequence has happened to many people I know and value very much. These are usually health and well being issues with real life changing considerations. The aspects of life that confront us all as we get older. Therefore it is vital to capture as many moments of happiness and joy as we can, to create new the new memories to look back on in years to follow. This week ( Monday 11 to Friday 15 November 2024), and weekend (Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November), for example, I have spent each day with very special friends. Enjoying a range of social activities including a big birthday surprise celebration. Now, at the moment, these are the wonderful evolving memories of other people, in time they form part of my ongoing collection. To be woven into special personal stories that punctuate my own life.
I look forward to sharing these in the weeks and months ahead. KB
Sunday, 17 November 2024
Tuesday, 3 September 2024
Testimony
The Testimony of Kenneth Andrew Burns.
My Journey to Faith, and the Continuing Christian Voyage.
It is said that every journey starts with a step. My initial step, or steps to faith, were thoughts while working. I am an artist, mostly a landscape painter, as such I gain my inspiration from the beautiful and wonderful landscape of the world. This is God’s awesome creation. For as long as I care to remember, those thoughts were of all the delights that I was blessed enough to sense, marvel at, and enjoy. Inevitably I would consider my place and role in all of this wonder of creation. Working by myself, the special thoughts developed into a special conversation, indeed a direct communication with God.
Certainly, for about four or five years, probably much longer, I have been thinking gently of theology and the meaning of life.
In the summer of 2019, the happy flow of my life got interrupted and I was reminded, first, of my own mortality, in the shape of a cancer scare which for a few months caused some worry. Then no sooner was I given good news about my own health, than we faced one of the bleakest possible… My dear mother was told she had an advanced cancer, for which there was no treatment, her illness was terminal. The consultants could not specify exactly how long she might have. In early November 2019, I became her primary carer. In the last eleven months of her illness I became increasingly aware of the essential and vital aspects of our very being. Love, dignity and respect punctuated every moment, and every moment was precious. I had assumed a very special and greatly privileged role which I was delighted and honoured to be able to do. When the pandemic and lock-down came, we were very much on our own. My little teaching job, in the local college, had come to an end. This in itself was a blessing as it afforded me the opportunity to dedicate my time solely to her care. We got an enriched insightfulness of each other… Then with all the worries, personal sadness, loss and global events, I found it necessary to call upon God’s help, to process my thoughts and feelings. My earlier informal direct communication, which I had felt very natural, was developing more like prayer which I now felt gave great comfort.
My dear mother and I shared quality time and I listened and learned so much. I realised that she was indeed a person of faith herself and I would find notes referring and quoting from scripture wherever she had been, in the house. After 2nd September 2020, when she finally retreated to her bed¬room, her power of speech became continually weaker, and these notes took on a special meaning. She would write them and leave them in books, bibles and drawers. One read “there is nothing without the Lord”. I continue to find these notes, poignant reminders of her wisdom, love and guidance. She sadly passed away on 6th October 2020.
In an awful instant my whole life had changed, I felt an overwhelming sadness, I was grief stricken and there was now an empty void…how does one attempt to fill such a void left by a loved one?! There was also the end of my special role as her primary carer. I had become sensitised to her needs both day and night. I still listened out for her in the echoes of the silence. I could not sleep. Then one morning, as I looked through one of her beautiful little note books, I found one of her most profound notes, a reiteration of something she had said to me a couple of months prior. It read, “K, please don’t cry for me too long, when I am gone. Get on with all the good things you planned, do not waste a moment and be the happy person I always knew you to be.”
I have always been a social person who loves being with people, and I am very fortunate to have many good friends and family, who were most supportive and helpful when my dear mother passed away. One very dear friend was Jann Skelly, who I had known from school days. We were reacquainted after I returned to Stornoway in 2017. We became very good friends and Jann was most supportive, inviting me to go along to the Stornoway High Church of Scotland. When my dear mother passed away, Jann, thoughtfully suggested I contact the minister, Rev. Gordon MacLeod, to conduct the funeral. I did this and the beautiful and sensitive words he wove into the service were a great comfort to our family. Our dear mother’s funeral was simply beautiful. It was a graveside service, subject to the restrictions during lockdown. I was most impressed with Gordon’s attention to detail. In the absence of church musical accompaniment, he read out the words of her favourite hymns. Especially appropriate was the passage he chose, Proverbs 31:10-31 Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character. He also, kindly, recorded the service as I requested, which means I can listen to it again at any time.
I continued an email correspondence with Gordon thanking him for the lovely service he conducted for my dear mother. I was delighted with his reply and invitation to come along to church with Jann when a semblance of stability returned, after lockdown restrictions were lifted. As soon as I could, I began to attend church and took great comfort in the words and songs of the service. I loved the morning services when the light shone through the windows and the place was filled with bright light. Often the words seemed to contain a poignancy and resonated for me, then I would be overwhelmed by the experience and often sat in gentle floods of uncontrolled tears.
As time gradually went by, I happily found myself attending more. I loved the great kindness and inclusiveness of the other people in the Stornoway High Church and the hand of fellowship was always welcoming.
One evening while walking with Jann, she invited me to help with something that I had never heard of before. Messy Church is an outreach initiative that primarily involves families through gospel and scripture, combined with art and craft ideas. I was intrigued by the concept of a messy church, as I did not associate the mess of art and craft with the peace and order of a church. I was delighted to become involved. Soon finding that it was an excellent means of engaging parents and their children in a creative way, in the framework of gospel and scripture.
I found myself becoming more involved and feeling more included. I was even invited to speak at a couple of family Sunday services. Explaining my involvement with Messy Church and its importance as an outreach aspect of the mission of the church. My personal and professional experience made it an understandable interest.
A less understandable subject for me to speak with any authority on came one Thursday evening. Gordon contacted me and asked if I had heard of an idea, that he was reading about, namely that of “the three miles per hour God.” He wanted me to consider what it meant and convey this in the service the following Sunday. I gave it some thought and met with him at the church on the Saturday, to discuss ideas. I gave it very careful thought and had an idea about it referring to God being unrushed and well-paced, in His approach to all things. Gordon said this was on the right lines. Not to worry about the words used as God would give me the words on the day. The Sunday morning arrived, and I had given it even more thought. I walked along to church, in the rain, hoping to avoid getting too wet. When my shoulder brushed against a beautiful privet hedge, that had very recently been trimmed and so the rain released its sweet fragrance into all my senses. Rather than being vexed, by getting wet in the rain. I slowed my pace and was instantly made aware of the wonder of “the three miles per hour God.” I then related the idea, in the service, to the congregation.
Over the months that passed I began to find peace and comfort in the sermons I attended, particularly the ones in the morning light. I listened as time and life presented further challenges of faith. Sadly, my life was filled with overwhelming emotions and grief with the loss of people who were very close to me. The summer and autumn of 2022 were particularly poignant. Then in the evening of the 11th November 2022, I suffered a TIA, Transient Ischaemic Attack… My good friends near me, I was given a lift to the A&E, and there given a full check-up. Several hours later I gently walked home. All the time I was conversing, privately, with God, though I did not regard this as formal prayer. I would say I was at once taking my life more seriously and simply overflowing with full gratitude and awareness of God’s gift and blessing of life. My emotions were running high and I could not sleep.
Between February and May 2023, I was delighted to join with some of the congregation of the Stornoway High Church in the most informative Alpha Course, devised by Nicky Gumble. I really benefited tremendously from attending and learnt the vital importance of direct prayer, the personal communication with God. I came to realise that my idea of informal talking with God, which I seem to have done all my life, does have a place and the communication of prayer can have many forms and variations. One is never lonely in prayer, and I am always grateful for the strength of fellowship and shared experience. In the Alpha Course I also learnt of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Throughout 2023, I was getting on with my life and looking to my future. I had planned an exhibition for the following May.
Then completely without warning on the 15th January 2024, just after preparing for a forth coming Messy Church. During a normal conversation with my friend Guido Blokland, I collapsed in my dining room with what was described as a Neurological Seizure. I surely gave Guido a very nasty shock, I lost consciousness and memory for a time, which scared me very much. I was taken to hospital in an ambulance and kept in for observation. While in hospital, I received many kind messages and prayers from my friends and Gordon kindly visited. I was simply overwhelmed by all the support shown to me. I had no idea what had happened, but decided that I would recapture 2024, and make it positive.
On 9th February 2024, a very dark wintry morning. I was getting concerned that time was progressing very fast and I had yet to begin any work for the exhibition, I had planned in the Comunn Eachraidh Nis, The Ness Historical Society, for the month of May. I was thinking that I did not even know the exhibition space and expressing my worry to my friend Guido, when he gave me a very wise reply and said I could make a positive beginning that very day by visiting. I could take the bus that left at 12.30 and return on the one that passed Comunn Eachraidh Nis at 4pm, and have enough time to do all that I needed, and have lunch there. Upon arriving at Comunn Eachraidh Nis, I was instantly inspired by the bright beauty of the space and kindness of the people there. I took some photographs of the space and made a floor plan. I came home full of ideas. I was delighted to have made a conscious start at my exhibition, and was ready to think of a title.
Sometimes the words and actions of others are all that we need to see a way ahead. Guido was just the calm influence that I required and I thought that the calm approach would be a good strategy to prepare and complete the exhibition. Remembering the lesson of the three mile per hour God, I resolved to enjoy the work without any panic. I felt very happy indeed.
The preparatory service on Friday 17th February 2024, of the communion weekend, at the Stornoway High Church of Scotland was led by the Rev Hector Morrison. I was very interested to hear his own memory of his conversion to Christianity, as a young student and his personal description of the simplicity of the event. I enjoyed his sermon, and the fellowship and testimony that followed.
Sunday 19th February 2024, was to be a very special day for me. It was a bright morning and I took my seat, soon after I settled, I was gently approached by elder Duncan MacInnes. He invited me to meet with him in the vestry after the service and before going for tea. There he kindly enquired as to why I had not yet gone forward, and he wished to tell me that he knew exactly how I was feeling. He proceeded to outline and mirror my exact thoughts and feelings at that moment, as if he could read my very thoughts. He reassured me that my reservations and sense of not having enough knowledge of scripture were normal and common place. He told me I had nothing to fear and if I did wish to go forward, he could inform the minister and the other elders. I could then come back before the evening service to go forward. At that moment I felt a great sense of warmth and joy. I went for my cup of tea filled with excitement. I wanted to call out loud! I went home, to collect the little light blue Christening New Testament, given to me by my god mother, my dear auntie Mary, on the day of my Christening in November 1961. The little Bible has been with me throughout my life and I wished to have it then, as I went forward to become a member of the Stornoway High Church of Scotland. Proclaiming my faith and belief in the Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, I was delighted and happy.
Over the next few days, I was very moved by the response of everyone I knew. Then on the 12th March, a day which would have been my parents wedding anniversary, I had been invited to present my testimony to the Scripture Union of the Lews Castle College Stornoway. I felt confident to do this.
On 10th April 2024, I had to go to Glasgow for an MRI scan. This meant a very quick trip and flight to Glasgow. I stayed with my sister-in-law, Susan, who was so kind and hospitable to me. Even taking the day off work to accompany me to the hospital. I was also delighted to able to see my nephews and niece. The result of the scan was positive – nothing untoward was detected.
After the briefest time away, I returned and happily resumed my painting in preparation for my exhibition. I had thought long and hard about an appropriate theme and title. It had to be something that I readily identified with and I wanted it to reflect my heritage. I called my exhibition “Àitichean”, the Gaelic for “Places”. I completed sixteen paintings of various sizes, inspired by my most favourite landscape locations and I was delighted to have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Certainly, my calm approach and quiet use of prayer had been very positive!
On Friday 3rd May 2024, a lovely sunny day, I opened my exhibition, “Àitichean”. In the beautiful bright gallery space at Comunn Eachraidh Nis. I had invited my good friend architect Campbell MacKenzie to contribute some of his amazing drawings. That afternoon the many friends that I had invited to the opening launch filled the space and it was a most enjoyable and successful event. That afternoon, I also had some sales success, selling nine of the total eleven paintings that sold.
I have been invited to present my testimony to the congregation of the Stornoway High Church of Scotland on 6th October 2024, the fourth anniversary of my mother’s passing. She had been an inspiration to me throughout my life, both spiritually and artistically.
Kenneth A Burns
3rd September 2024
My Journey to Faith, and the Continuing Christian Voyage.
It is said that every journey starts with a step. My initial step, or steps to faith, were thoughts while working. I am an artist, mostly a landscape painter, as such I gain my inspiration from the beautiful and wonderful landscape of the world. This is God’s awesome creation. For as long as I care to remember, those thoughts were of all the delights that I was blessed enough to sense, marvel at, and enjoy. Inevitably I would consider my place and role in all of this wonder of creation. Working by myself, the special thoughts developed into a special conversation, indeed a direct communication with God.
Certainly, for about four or five years, probably much longer, I have been thinking gently of theology and the meaning of life.
In the summer of 2019, the happy flow of my life got interrupted and I was reminded, first, of my own mortality, in the shape of a cancer scare which for a few months caused some worry. Then no sooner was I given good news about my own health, than we faced one of the bleakest possible… My dear mother was told she had an advanced cancer, for which there was no treatment, her illness was terminal. The consultants could not specify exactly how long she might have. In early November 2019, I became her primary carer. In the last eleven months of her illness I became increasingly aware of the essential and vital aspects of our very being. Love, dignity and respect punctuated every moment, and every moment was precious. I had assumed a very special and greatly privileged role which I was delighted and honoured to be able to do. When the pandemic and lock-down came, we were very much on our own. My little teaching job, in the local college, had come to an end. This in itself was a blessing as it afforded me the opportunity to dedicate my time solely to her care. We got an enriched insightfulness of each other… Then with all the worries, personal sadness, loss and global events, I found it necessary to call upon God’s help, to process my thoughts and feelings. My earlier informal direct communication, which I had felt very natural, was developing more like prayer which I now felt gave great comfort.
My dear mother and I shared quality time and I listened and learned so much. I realised that she was indeed a person of faith herself and I would find notes referring and quoting from scripture wherever she had been, in the house. After 2nd September 2020, when she finally retreated to her bed¬room, her power of speech became continually weaker, and these notes took on a special meaning. She would write them and leave them in books, bibles and drawers. One read “there is nothing without the Lord”. I continue to find these notes, poignant reminders of her wisdom, love and guidance. She sadly passed away on 6th October 2020.
In an awful instant my whole life had changed, I felt an overwhelming sadness, I was grief stricken and there was now an empty void…how does one attempt to fill such a void left by a loved one?! There was also the end of my special role as her primary carer. I had become sensitised to her needs both day and night. I still listened out for her in the echoes of the silence. I could not sleep. Then one morning, as I looked through one of her beautiful little note books, I found one of her most profound notes, a reiteration of something she had said to me a couple of months prior. It read, “K, please don’t cry for me too long, when I am gone. Get on with all the good things you planned, do not waste a moment and be the happy person I always knew you to be.”
I have always been a social person who loves being with people, and I am very fortunate to have many good friends and family, who were most supportive and helpful when my dear mother passed away. One very dear friend was Jann Skelly, who I had known from school days. We were reacquainted after I returned to Stornoway in 2017. We became very good friends and Jann was most supportive, inviting me to go along to the Stornoway High Church of Scotland. When my dear mother passed away, Jann, thoughtfully suggested I contact the minister, Rev. Gordon MacLeod, to conduct the funeral. I did this and the beautiful and sensitive words he wove into the service were a great comfort to our family. Our dear mother’s funeral was simply beautiful. It was a graveside service, subject to the restrictions during lockdown. I was most impressed with Gordon’s attention to detail. In the absence of church musical accompaniment, he read out the words of her favourite hymns. Especially appropriate was the passage he chose, Proverbs 31:10-31 Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character. He also, kindly, recorded the service as I requested, which means I can listen to it again at any time.
I continued an email correspondence with Gordon thanking him for the lovely service he conducted for my dear mother. I was delighted with his reply and invitation to come along to church with Jann when a semblance of stability returned, after lockdown restrictions were lifted. As soon as I could, I began to attend church and took great comfort in the words and songs of the service. I loved the morning services when the light shone through the windows and the place was filled with bright light. Often the words seemed to contain a poignancy and resonated for me, then I would be overwhelmed by the experience and often sat in gentle floods of uncontrolled tears.
As time gradually went by, I happily found myself attending more. I loved the great kindness and inclusiveness of the other people in the Stornoway High Church and the hand of fellowship was always welcoming.
One evening while walking with Jann, she invited me to help with something that I had never heard of before. Messy Church is an outreach initiative that primarily involves families through gospel and scripture, combined with art and craft ideas. I was intrigued by the concept of a messy church, as I did not associate the mess of art and craft with the peace and order of a church. I was delighted to become involved. Soon finding that it was an excellent means of engaging parents and their children in a creative way, in the framework of gospel and scripture.
I found myself becoming more involved and feeling more included. I was even invited to speak at a couple of family Sunday services. Explaining my involvement with Messy Church and its importance as an outreach aspect of the mission of the church. My personal and professional experience made it an understandable interest.
A less understandable subject for me to speak with any authority on came one Thursday evening. Gordon contacted me and asked if I had heard of an idea, that he was reading about, namely that of “the three miles per hour God.” He wanted me to consider what it meant and convey this in the service the following Sunday. I gave it some thought and met with him at the church on the Saturday, to discuss ideas. I gave it very careful thought and had an idea about it referring to God being unrushed and well-paced, in His approach to all things. Gordon said this was on the right lines. Not to worry about the words used as God would give me the words on the day. The Sunday morning arrived, and I had given it even more thought. I walked along to church, in the rain, hoping to avoid getting too wet. When my shoulder brushed against a beautiful privet hedge, that had very recently been trimmed and so the rain released its sweet fragrance into all my senses. Rather than being vexed, by getting wet in the rain. I slowed my pace and was instantly made aware of the wonder of “the three miles per hour God.” I then related the idea, in the service, to the congregation.
Over the months that passed I began to find peace and comfort in the sermons I attended, particularly the ones in the morning light. I listened as time and life presented further challenges of faith. Sadly, my life was filled with overwhelming emotions and grief with the loss of people who were very close to me. The summer and autumn of 2022 were particularly poignant. Then in the evening of the 11th November 2022, I suffered a TIA, Transient Ischaemic Attack… My good friends near me, I was given a lift to the A&E, and there given a full check-up. Several hours later I gently walked home. All the time I was conversing, privately, with God, though I did not regard this as formal prayer. I would say I was at once taking my life more seriously and simply overflowing with full gratitude and awareness of God’s gift and blessing of life. My emotions were running high and I could not sleep.
Between February and May 2023, I was delighted to join with some of the congregation of the Stornoway High Church in the most informative Alpha Course, devised by Nicky Gumble. I really benefited tremendously from attending and learnt the vital importance of direct prayer, the personal communication with God. I came to realise that my idea of informal talking with God, which I seem to have done all my life, does have a place and the communication of prayer can have many forms and variations. One is never lonely in prayer, and I am always grateful for the strength of fellowship and shared experience. In the Alpha Course I also learnt of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Throughout 2023, I was getting on with my life and looking to my future. I had planned an exhibition for the following May.
Then completely without warning on the 15th January 2024, just after preparing for a forth coming Messy Church. During a normal conversation with my friend Guido Blokland, I collapsed in my dining room with what was described as a Neurological Seizure. I surely gave Guido a very nasty shock, I lost consciousness and memory for a time, which scared me very much. I was taken to hospital in an ambulance and kept in for observation. While in hospital, I received many kind messages and prayers from my friends and Gordon kindly visited. I was simply overwhelmed by all the support shown to me. I had no idea what had happened, but decided that I would recapture 2024, and make it positive.
On 9th February 2024, a very dark wintry morning. I was getting concerned that time was progressing very fast and I had yet to begin any work for the exhibition, I had planned in the Comunn Eachraidh Nis, The Ness Historical Society, for the month of May. I was thinking that I did not even know the exhibition space and expressing my worry to my friend Guido, when he gave me a very wise reply and said I could make a positive beginning that very day by visiting. I could take the bus that left at 12.30 and return on the one that passed Comunn Eachraidh Nis at 4pm, and have enough time to do all that I needed, and have lunch there. Upon arriving at Comunn Eachraidh Nis, I was instantly inspired by the bright beauty of the space and kindness of the people there. I took some photographs of the space and made a floor plan. I came home full of ideas. I was delighted to have made a conscious start at my exhibition, and was ready to think of a title.
Sometimes the words and actions of others are all that we need to see a way ahead. Guido was just the calm influence that I required and I thought that the calm approach would be a good strategy to prepare and complete the exhibition. Remembering the lesson of the three mile per hour God, I resolved to enjoy the work without any panic. I felt very happy indeed.
The preparatory service on Friday 17th February 2024, of the communion weekend, at the Stornoway High Church of Scotland was led by the Rev Hector Morrison. I was very interested to hear his own memory of his conversion to Christianity, as a young student and his personal description of the simplicity of the event. I enjoyed his sermon, and the fellowship and testimony that followed.
Sunday 19th February 2024, was to be a very special day for me. It was a bright morning and I took my seat, soon after I settled, I was gently approached by elder Duncan MacInnes. He invited me to meet with him in the vestry after the service and before going for tea. There he kindly enquired as to why I had not yet gone forward, and he wished to tell me that he knew exactly how I was feeling. He proceeded to outline and mirror my exact thoughts and feelings at that moment, as if he could read my very thoughts. He reassured me that my reservations and sense of not having enough knowledge of scripture were normal and common place. He told me I had nothing to fear and if I did wish to go forward, he could inform the minister and the other elders. I could then come back before the evening service to go forward. At that moment I felt a great sense of warmth and joy. I went for my cup of tea filled with excitement. I wanted to call out loud! I went home, to collect the little light blue Christening New Testament, given to me by my god mother, my dear auntie Mary, on the day of my Christening in November 1961. The little Bible has been with me throughout my life and I wished to have it then, as I went forward to become a member of the Stornoway High Church of Scotland. Proclaiming my faith and belief in the Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, I was delighted and happy.
Over the next few days, I was very moved by the response of everyone I knew. Then on the 12th March, a day which would have been my parents wedding anniversary, I had been invited to present my testimony to the Scripture Union of the Lews Castle College Stornoway. I felt confident to do this.
On 10th April 2024, I had to go to Glasgow for an MRI scan. This meant a very quick trip and flight to Glasgow. I stayed with my sister-in-law, Susan, who was so kind and hospitable to me. Even taking the day off work to accompany me to the hospital. I was also delighted to able to see my nephews and niece. The result of the scan was positive – nothing untoward was detected.
After the briefest time away, I returned and happily resumed my painting in preparation for my exhibition. I had thought long and hard about an appropriate theme and title. It had to be something that I readily identified with and I wanted it to reflect my heritage. I called my exhibition “Àitichean”, the Gaelic for “Places”. I completed sixteen paintings of various sizes, inspired by my most favourite landscape locations and I was delighted to have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Certainly, my calm approach and quiet use of prayer had been very positive!
On Friday 3rd May 2024, a lovely sunny day, I opened my exhibition, “Àitichean”. In the beautiful bright gallery space at Comunn Eachraidh Nis. I had invited my good friend architect Campbell MacKenzie to contribute some of his amazing drawings. That afternoon the many friends that I had invited to the opening launch filled the space and it was a most enjoyable and successful event. That afternoon, I also had some sales success, selling nine of the total eleven paintings that sold.
I have been invited to present my testimony to the congregation of the Stornoway High Church of Scotland on 6th October 2024, the fourth anniversary of my mother’s passing. She had been an inspiration to me throughout my life, both spiritually and artistically.
Kenneth A Burns
3rd September 2024
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