How far we've come

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7.12

I gather that the village of Portnalong celebrates its centenary today: meal ur naigheachd! The resettlement of families from Harris and Lewis in a depopulated corner of Skye in the Land for Heroes scheme after the 1st World War marked a significant step in the long-running saga of land reform in the highlands. People who fought and died for their country deserved a place to lay their heads and accommodate their families.

Descendants of the original pioneers will be at today's celebrations, as will many more recent arrivals and, no doubt, some of those who have come and gone in the meantime. The whiff of nostalgia will be in the air, blending with the aroma of hope for what the future might have in store. Most importantly, though, the very fact that such an event is happening testifies to the fact that this is a community which is alive and energetic, aware of its heritage and proud of its existence. Such a cocktail of delight is increasingly rare; it deserves savouring...