CP W4 D2 Jesus Calls the Disciples - Sacred Spaces (Mark 1:14-20)

Today we learned that Jesus came to Simon (soon to be called Peter) and Andrew while they were sitting on a boat, a very normal and everyday place for them. This normal place became a sacred space once Jesus was present as He reached out and called them. We are urged to consider which spaces are sacred for us, and how does a space become sacred.

A space becomes sacred for us once we encounter God there. For me, some spaces are obviously sacred - Church interiors for example. The Old Church is especially sacred for me... there's just something about that place (maybe it's history) that exudes God's presence. Don't tell anybody, but I still have a key to the Old Church from the days when I played guitar for the Saturday services... I've once or twice let myself in to just sit in the abundant natural light and feel God's presence.

Another general type of sacred space for me is all of "God's natural cathedrals" - those spaces you encounter while out in nature that just seem infused with God's presence. Many times on a hike, I come across different little opening in the trees where the sunlight streams in and I naturally think of God's presence and beauty.

I also have sacred spaces in my home. One is my spot at the dining room table where I sometimes do my Bible reading. The other (and main place for me) is my desk in my den. Here I have a candle, my Bible collection, my Car Talk calendar (God does have a sense of humor), and various other study aids and this is where I come to encounter God at 5:00 most mornings. The den is a room that John helped me put together and also where I practice my guitar, so its a special room for me.

It's sort of interesting that this is also the place where some of my "least sacred" activities happen. It's where I balance my checkbook so it's naturally where most of my fussing with Kristen about family finances happens. It's also where I surf the Internet and interact with old friends through Facebook (sometimes not the most sacred activities in my day).

But even this dual nature of the space serves to remind me that God is indeed present in all aspects of my life and his presence makes me holy as well - even the parts that we don't completely give over to him... yet.