Sacred Space

I can look back over me three decade journey with Christ and name one place after another along the way where Christ met me in a significant way. There is a spot at YouthFront Camp West that is so meaningful, a cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks that brings back memories of great spiritual depth; I will never forget places of significance in California, Florida and Colorado where God showed up in a unique way. All the emotion of times spent in prayer at The Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem, and The Empty Tomb in Israel, Glendalough in Ireland, The Maritine Prison of Paul in Rome, Italy, and Birchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps all come easily flooding back when I remember how God met me there. In addition there have been times of surprise when the Holy Spirit met me in a special way in my car, during a jog or laying in my bed. All of these places are sacred places for me because I encountered God. What factors are involved in creating a Sacred Space? According to Hebrew Scripture, one of the most amazing sacred spaces appeared to be nothing. It was a small area on top of the Ark of the Covenant. There was no visible, physical entity only the intangible presence (Shekinah) of God. There within the Holy of Holies was the most significant space in all Israel. What appeared to be empty was actually filled with the Glory of God. Sacred Spaces can be of this earth or may extend into the cosmos. "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). Whether our Sacred Spaces are a place on this planet or the stars beyond, the important thing is that our response be "here am I, speak to me." May you find Sacred Space - where heaven and earth meet and where God and you, his creation, deeply commune.