One of the truly energizing experiences during
my 2012 sabbatical has been the discovery of holy ground. Often, we only think of officially sanctioned
places and times—church buildings, Sunday morning worship, and so forth. Those are included on my list, but they’ve
been other, sometimes surprising places, that have made my list:
The
chapel at Iona Abbey, Scotland (especially the north choir, front row, just to
the right of center).
Castlerigg
Stone Circle in the Lake District, UK—a prehistoric stone circle.
Pheasant
Branch Conservancy, Middleton.
Fingal’s
Cave, Island of Staffa, Scotland.
The
oratory at Holy Wisdom Monastery, Middleton.
Driving
west in my car last week, watching the sun set.
The
top of Sheepstor in the Peak District, UK.
In
a shady cemetery just yesterday, standing next to the graves of long-lost (and
now found) relatives.
The
ruined abbey church at Lanercost Priory, UK.
The
White Cliffs of Dover.
The
top of Tor I’, the highest point on the island of Iona.
The
sandstone cliffs along Mirror Lake and the Kickapoo River.
One of the important rediscoveries of my sabbatical has been
the importance of these non-traditional holy places for me. It’s only too easy to get sucked dry by the
demands of each day. Each of these
places has been like refreshing rain for my soul. And it’s the reminder that holy ground can be
anywhere, with anyone. Fresh winds of the Spirit may
blow in the most unlikely of places.
Less than three weeks remaining until I return to work. I’m feeling renewed and refreshed, ready to hit
the ground running. But these holy
places will continue to be a part of me and a source of life as I moved
forward.
“We are standing on holy ground . . .”
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