The Triumph of Light

Photo courtesy of World Renew

by Jamie McIntosh, World Renew

Last week, the world lost a bright light. Many of us lost a friend, a loved one, a colleague, an inspiration, and a guiding light in Iona Stewart Buisman, with whom I was privileged to work at World Renew. Iona passed away after battling an illness during an extended stay in hospital.

More than 300 people gathered at Iona’s church, Wellington Square United Church in Burlington, Ontario, on Saturday in celebration of her life and legacy. The theme of light was reflected on by friends and family alike as stories were shared about the joyful, loving service that emanated from Iona in her advocacy and her actions near and far.

My own time of getting to know Iona was all too brief, but from our very first encounter to the various conversations we shared along the way at World Renew, where she served with blazing joy for many years, it was clear she was a rare and radiant soul.

Iona possessed a brilliant array of gifts and graces, blending deep conviction on matters of justice with a compassionate embrace of each living being sharing space on God’s green Earth. How refreshing, on this polarized planet, to find

someone who knew where and for what she stood, yet who went out of her way to meet people wherever they were, embracing them as they are, as dearly beloved of God.

My first in-depth conversation with Iona took place last winter as we jostled about with fellow World Renew colleagues in a bouncy vehicle twisting its way through hilly terrain outside of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She positively exuded her vision for bringing church members young and old from North America together with parishioners and community members in the Global South on an equal footing, sharing holy ground. Her approach wasn’t “white saviourism” but rather bore witness to a naturally just and profound sense of justice for the dignity of every person. She sought to see each person enriching the other in solidarity, with their distinctive personal insights and potent contributions, with local knowledge rightly leading the way.

Iona’s impassioned calling wasn’t to lofty ideals without meaningful action. Not in the least. What I saw around me in Latin America that winter, as well as in Africa the following summer, was Iona’s mighty band of “bridgers” — relational connectors — working each day to bring this kingdom vision to fruition in diverse local contexts the world over: Ensuring women had access, authority, and agency to lead in their communities. Emblazoning the practical protection of children from harm, paving the way for them to live their own lives of bright promise. Advocating that the voices of the poor and the marginalized be heard and heeded in the life of the communities and countries and creation they inhabit.

The Bible speaks of how pleasant it is when God’s people dwell together in unity (Psalm 133). It teaches that followers of Jesus are not to be self-righteous or self- absorbed, as we so often are. Rather, as servants of Christ, we have been entrusted with the call to be ambassadors of reconciliation. This is what the bridger team Iona so caringly mentored lives out. Each staff member thoughtfully creates ways to draw people from radically different backgrounds together in authentic relationship, joyful partnership, and mutual transformation of the world around and within themselves. Truly, the kingdom is in their midst. Iona’s legacy shines bright through them, as it does in many local ministries she sparked back in Canada. It’s been wisely said that “the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." Iona shone everywhere, and her warmth and radiance still glows in our hearts and on our faces.

Drawing on the Scottish heritage Iona and I held in common, I’ve discovered the name Iona can be traced to words meaning dove, and omen or sign in the sense of a being a messenger of peace. The Isle of Iona itself is considered the birthplace of Celtic Christianity in Scotland, remaining a place of pilgrimage to this day. I’ve been informed that the monastery on that island would have had its edifice artfully treated with a resplendent brightness to be visible from a great distance, amidst the mist and spray of the sea. Likewise, God seems to have set a special torch ablaze on the earth in Iona, with her spirited resolve, hinting at the courageous and inspiring woman who so brightly spread a message of peace and embrace amidst a turbulent world. She in turn painted things in bold relief when warranted to confront injustice, with truth and power, but also with an unfailingly gracious, loving concern.

And so now I wonder if perhaps my own vision has been too dim. Maybe we didn’t truly lose a bright light. Rather, Iona’s torch has been elevated to a loftier lamp stand, to be visible from a great distance, so her rays cast more broadly from her eternal home with God. Even now, as I reflect on the Iona I was just beginning to discover, alongside the countless stories of other lives she has touched, I find my eyes uplifted. Shimmering rays are breaking through the darkness — even the disorienting darkness of our deep mourning — breaking through, chorus-like in sweet crescendo echoing the prophet Isaiah calling forth Zion’s glory:

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy...” (Isaiah 60:1-5a, NIV)

One bright day, we will be gathered together with Jesus, who is our light. There we will dance in the dazzling presence Iona gave glimpses of while she was here working to make the fallen world renewed with heaven’s dew. I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be many others gathered there, “sons from afar... daughters carried on the hip...” whose own pilgrimage was sparked when they encountered Christ through the beautiful, refracted radiance of our sweet sister Iona.

Requiescat in pace. Enter into the joy of the Lord, beloved Iona.

Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV

“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”