SECOND THOUGHT: SPIRITUAL SPACES

(Additional reflections on this week’s post, Spiritual Spaces)

Along with the spiritual spaces we create in special places, we can also extend spiritual spaces into our daily living. Each time we are prayerfully attentive to the task or experience before us, mindful of its holy place in our day, we open sacred spaces in our souls for God’s presence.

I have a few favorite rituals, simple acts that foster attentiveness to God and appreciation for my day.

Opening the front door each morning, I carry on my departed dad’s ritual of saying, “Good morning, world!” as I gratefully welcome the new day. When I turn off our small tulip light before going to bed, I thank God for the day and whisper, “Goodnight, God.” I often light a candle when I want to remain prayerful, mindful of someone; its flame and scent keep my prayer intentions with me as I go about my routine. The act of taking off our shoes can inspire thoughts of being on holy ground. My daily walks in nature are a contemplative prayer and worship time. Sunrises and sunsets always inspire thoughts of hopeful beginnings and peaceful endings, the wisdom found in the rhythms of days and seasons, the wonder of our universe and God’s infinite majesty.

In designating our ordinary, daily routines as holy observances, the day itself begins to feel more sacred. And when we observe each day as holy, we become more mindful to regard our interactions and experiences as holy, too. The whole world is filled with the glory of God. We only need to pause and pay attention.

Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” 
(Genesis 28:16, NRSVUE)

Photos by Karen
Bible verse found at https://www.biblegateway.com/