The Name- Why Saint Aidan?

Aidan's life contains traces of the heartbeat we desire.

He was a man who knew how to speak the the story of Jesus in a way that could be easily understood by those who heard it.

"The first Celtic bishop, Corman, soon returned to Iona, where he declared that the Angles of Northumbria were too stubborn and intractable. The historian Bede writes that, at a meeting to discuss the problem, an Irish monk called Aidan suggested that Corman had been unreasonably harsh with his unlearned listeners, and "did not first, as the Apostle has told us, offer them the milk of less solid doctrine". It was immediately resolved to send Aidan to Northumbria as bishop."

He was a man who knew the value of simplicity & generosity.

"Aidan preached widely throughout Northumbria, travelling on foot, so that he could readily talk to everyone he met. When Oswin gave him a horse for use in difficult terrain, Aidan quixotically gave it to a beggar soliciting alms. Oswin was angry until, as Bede recounts, Aidan asked if the son of a mare was more precious to the king than a son of God. Oswin sought Aidan's pardon, and promised never again to question or regret any of his wealth being given away to children of God."
"The presents he received were given to the poor or used to buy the freedom of slaves, some of whom entered the priesthood. "

He was a man who intentionally created space for discipleship to take place.
"The saint also recruited classes of Anglo-Saxon youths to be educated at Lindisfarne. Among them was Saint Eata, abbot of Melrose and later of Lindisfarne. In time, Eata's pupil, Saint Cuthbert, also became bishop of Lindisfarne. "

May God grant grace,
that we might learn to tell the story of Jesus,
learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive
and learn to help those around us to see and follow Jesus.
By the power of the Spirit and for the sake of the kingdom.
Amen.

All quotes via Ireland's Eye.
Also, see Brittania's bio.
And the Wiki.