During our stay in Scotland at the Blairmore House in Huntly, owned and operated by Ellel Ministries as a healing and restoration place for senior Christian leaders, I relished waking up each morning in the beautifully restored and refurbished castle in the highlands. Gray clouds and drizzling rain overtook the skies almost daily, still my heart bubbled up with the joy of the Scottish landscape and ancient culture that cloistered our little group in the center of God’s purpose for us for the next ten days.

It is really hard to name a favorite experience. The verdant rolling hills, trees, and streams surrounding the house brought a special kind of blessing and delight each day, as did the young staff minding the meals and housekeeping. Several times, my heart grew three times its normal size when I heard and received spiritual and biblical insights and enlightened personal experiences from the 3 couples that led our restoration journey. Their teaching and counseling brought freedom and deep healing. We had fun too. Laughter often rang out from the dining room where we enjoyed fellowship and carefully planned Scottish and English meals. Sometimes tears flowed too as redeemed but broken people from several cultures merged together for the sole purpose of hearing God and glorifying His name.

This 10-day freedom retreat had been planned a year ago. When the time arrived to leave, little did we know how much we would desperately need this time away for both contemplation and restoration. The Lord has always been so faithful to know the steps that we take as he refines us like purest gold. The process is painful. Sometimes our journey demands that we just stop and grieve the losses, betrayals, disappointments, and failures. Why do we resist it?

Reflection coupled with wise counsel and prayer is so restorative. Our hearts grew more grateful each day for the counselors that were paired with us. That helped lead us to clear and biblical thought about some of the challenging situations facing us in life now. That break in the highlands perfectly prepared us to return to hard situations at home with a wholesome and healed perspective.

One unusual and unexpected memory that I cherish is the beautiful bedroom that was assigned to us. A grand room in its day, it served as a peaceful respite when we broke away from the group. Because Blairmore House is situated in the far north, the sun rose at 4:30 am and set at 10:00 pm. I recall going to bed each night with daylight breaking through the curtains, and likewise waking up early with the same. The natural light highlighted the heavy, formal Scottish tartan drapery hung in our bedroom, reminiscent of the Blairmore House clan. We learned that it is typical for Scott’s to use their individual family clan tartan to decorate their homes. Sometimes they hang drapery, wallpaper, or upholster chairs and sofas in their special plaids.

Every morning and night, I saw the light bursting through and around the tartan fabric, I thought of how thinly veiled the strength of the sun had been concealed. Its full illumination is a hard thing to cover.

Things veiled, according to the Bible, refer to the presence and mysteries of God as well as separating mankind from His holiness. Sometimes it also represents a mindset of reverence, humbleness, honor of divinity, and things hidden from finite creatures.

In the Old Testament, a very thick and heavy veil divided the Holy of Holies from all other parts of the Jewish temple. That partition became a barrier of protection between humans and the One True God. No person can see God and live. The death of Jesus on the cross as the supreme sacrifice ripped the veil historically and spiritually. It grants us forever access to God and redemption. We are invited to enter in through forgiveness of sins.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body”Hebrews 10:19-20.

It’s so interesting just how memory works but almost every time I witnessed the sun breaking through those lovely Scottish tartan curtains, I thought of the veil torn for me that I may become a Son of God and be included in His forever family. I also imagined how someday the full image of God’s face, light, love, and dominion will be completely unveiled to us. This puts the fear of God in me to lean into Jesus as never before.

We are home now from Scotland lingering over the beautiful pictures we snapped of the almost ethereal sky, sea, and land—the heathered mountains and smell of salt air lingering on the coast. We are so grateful for the opportunity to pause in life so that our hearts and spirits could catch-up with the joys and trials of life. The heart and purposes of God were unveiled to both Wayne and I as we wept through past and current hurts.

While in Scotland, I wept the sound of rain in unison with the weeping heavens over that ancient land. My hope is revival in my own heart and around the world. As the world grows darker, how we need this to herald in His second coming.

I also had the thought that perhaps Scotland symbolizes the weeping prophet, representing God to the people and the people to God, so that Jesus and his salvation would be visible to every nation. Perhaps the skies of Scotland weep day-and-night for the revelation of the image of God and the sons of light to be unveiled to mankind. Yes, while in Scotland, I wept too with the skies and recognized a glimpse of His face more clearly.