Davaar Island
In July 1999 we found a request in our e-mail from Brian Cox asking if we could track down a postcard of Davaar Island to replace one which he had lost.
As you will read in the following article the island - which stands in Campbeltown Loch, Kintyre, Scotland - holds a special place in Brian's heart.
But, read what Brian had to say in his e-mail attachment and then I will tell you what happened!
Where and When do you feel closest to your God?
Why do I ask such a question?
It came to me after a conversation I just had with my 11 year old son. We are about to embark on a short fishing trip and as he was busily gathering everything he wanted to take,
I told him that I would be happy to take him, but not to be disappointed if I did not actually do any fishing. He looked at me in disbelief, and ask why I would not be fishing. My explanation to him was that rather than worrying about finding the right bait, making sure all the gear was in good shape and then be discouraged because the fish wouldn't cooperate I would rather just sit on the bank of the stream and lose myself in God's magnificent creation. I have found that if you are fortunate enough to find one, there actually are places that you cannot see or hear the effects of what man has done to God's perfect world. I would like to tell you all of just such a place where I have been.
I have always held a belief in God from as early as I can remember, however I had not taken Jesus as my Personal Lord and Saviour at that time. The place I refer to is a cave on Davaar island in the bay of Campbeltown, Scotland.
I had been sent to Scotland by the Navy for a 6 month tour of duty, and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my wife, who was to join me in a couple of weeks. I had been spending my off duty hours as a typical tourist, looking over the town and outlying areas. During my excursions I had seen the island in the bay, but was not overly excited by it, just a hill surrounded by water, or so I thought. Suddenly, one afternoon I had an overwhelming urge to get to that island and really didn't know why. After talking to some of the locals, I found out that at low tide you are able to walk on semi-dry land (rock bottom) all the way out to the island. Finding this out, I started out at once. It's not an easy walk but two of my friends and I made the trip. We were having a good time exploring, walking through the blooming heather, tripping and falling in the small, spring fed streams which the heather covers so that you don't know they are there till you're in them. To make a long story short, as we came down from the top of the island and started to walk the shoreline around the island, we came across a cave in the cliff face. This cave opens out to the Firth of Clyde so that once inside looking out, all you see is water.
I don't mind telling you that I really do not like caves but that same compulsion that sent me to the island was drawing me inside that cave. As I stepped inside, it was like stepping into another world. It was not total darkness but a kind of twilight, and the only sound you could hear was the surf gently washing up on the rocky beach below. I could not even hear my friends just outside the cave. While in that cave an indescribable serenity set in on me, I couldn't believe how wonderful I suddenly felt. I really did not want to leave that cave just yet so I found a rather large rock and sat down. As I sat, I had the occasion to look up at the opposing wall and got the surprise of my life!
On that wall was a painting of the Crucifixion.
As I sat there looking in amazement, I then realised that I had been brought to that cave for a reason. God had brought me there to give me a quiet place to go when I could find no other.
I will never forget the overpowering feeling of love and compassion our Lord has for us as I sat quietly, not wanting to go back out into the noise and confusion of the world in which we must live, for now.
I know that this may sound like a fantasy, let me assure you it is not. The island exists, the cave is real, the painting is there. The locals have known about it since it was painted there by Alexander MacKinnon in 1887.
Although I only made the one visit to the island I have since revisited that cave many, many times. That cave is the first place that God spoke to my heart, and I actually took the time to be still and listen. Since then, He has comforted me, admonished me, and LOVED me on countless visits to that one small cave. Please don't misunderstand, I KNOW that God is with me always, but I feel closest to Him when we sit together in that cave.
I thank God for drawing me there, to touch me and set me on the pathway home to Him.
My prayer is that you all may be led to similar such places, where you can return to a quiet place and be alone with the Lord.
© copyright: Brian Cox 1999
The Crucifixion
Archibald Mackinnon
(1850 - 1935)
I was brought up on the opposite side of the Firth of Clyde from the Kintyre Peninsula and I remembered being told the story of the Davaar painting while at school in Largs.But I couldn't quite remember how the story went. John phoned the local library in Campbeltown who readily told us where postcards of the painting could be bought. Not only that, but they faxed details of the painting and artist too!
The story goes that the painting was discovered by a becalmed yachtsman who rowed to the island to stretch his legs. In the cave, he struck a match to light his pipe - and promptly fainted when he saw the painting! When the others from his yacht found him and they sailed into Campbeltown the news of the discovery was out. It is said that next day townsfolk walked over to view the painting but no-one knew who had painted it until Archibald Mackinnon told how he had awoken from a dream with the vision of the painting in his mind. He said that he even knew which rock he was to paint it on and that was not without difficulty for he had to tie his paintbrush to his walking stick to reach to top. Shortly afterwards Mackinnon left the town - he was thought to have been worried about having used paint belonging to the school for his work!
He never achieved the greatness of other artists from the town but he did return in 1902 to restore the painting and again in 1934 when he was given something of a hero's welcome. He died the next year and it somehow seems appropriate that when the painting was next restored in the 1950s it was by Hugh McInally, the art teacher at Campbeltown Grammar School. That was when a strip of lead was added above the painting to stop some of the water damage it had suffered in previous years.
Brian has asked me to point out that walking to Davaar has its hazards and it is as well to take careful note of the state of the tide before setting out. When he visited it, he did not and had a chilly walk back through waist high water!
15th July 1999
The position of Davaar Island is:
Longtude - 5 deg. 32 min. W ; Latitude - 55 deg. 25 min. N
You can send reactions directly to Brian by e-mail.
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