SPIRITUAL SPACES

When we moved into our current home six years ago, I had the movers place my desk in a corner between our kitchen and living area. At the time, I felt that this location would be sufficient until I could move the desk to a bedroom and have a separate office for my writing space. Now I no longer wish to do that. These six years of reflecting, writing, praying, and journaling in this corner have created an atmosphere that fosters my creativity. When I sit down at my desk, my spirit quietly settles, becoming more readily reflective and open to inspiration.

I notice similar feelings about our back porch. As long as the seasons allow, Jim and I have our early morning coffee, devotional readings, and prayer in our cozy outdoor space before we begin our day. We gather again before dinner to chat over beverages. Each time I head out to our porch, I can feel my spirit slowing, relaxing, opening to God and nature. This is the space where I am invited to simply BE.

And one day on my walk at Valley Park, I impulsively stopped to pray in the outdoor amphitheater. This spot is now a spiritual stopping point on my walks, a moment of sanctuary where I pause to consider the day and my life’s journey within it.

God is omnipresent, not confined within sanctuaries or designated spaces. But our spiritual spaces help foster our sense of God’s presence with us. Perhaps this is another reason that Jesus tells us, “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” A place set apart to pause and pray in solitude can become a sacred space, a place in which we let our thoughts ebb, our hearts open, and our awareness deepen.

The whole inhabited earth is sacred space in which God lives, breathes, and acts. ~ Carter Heyward

Yes, “the whole inhabited earth is sacred space…” and our personal daily sanctuaries give us room to pause, remember, and notice this holy presence of God, around us and within us.

The Bible verse is Matthew 6:6 (NRSVUE), found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photos by Karen