Advent 10 - Sacred Spaces

        In the peak of our anticipation of God’s gift, we must prepare ourselves to receive it. Even Mary, after the angel’s proclamation, had 9 months to prepare. But it occurs to me, that in our preparation, God might be missed if the gift doesn’t meet our preconceived notions of what such a gift might be. Most Jews rejected Jesus because they expected their Messiah to come as a mighty man of valor, a conqueror, an earthly image of royalty or warrior, but instead that got a child born into ridiculously meager circumstances (a barn and feeding trough) on quiet, calm night.

         Likewise, most people expect God to come in a shout or a bang, but God sent the most significant gift in the silence of a night and often speaks to us in the same way. So, in order to prepare for God’s good gift, we have to be intentional and practical about creating what I like to call Sacred Spaces that might allow us to hear the voice and feel the guiding, leading and nudging of God.

         A sacred place is a place all your own— inside or outside your home, holding a deeply meaningful object, experiencing the peace of your surroundings. In essence,  it’s a place where you can disappear from the demands and distractions of everyday life and be alone with God to recharge. Christian singer Amy Grant puts it this way in her song, I Need a Silent Night.
 

“I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night”

I can’t remember where (so please forgive my plagiarism), but I once read some guidelines for creating quiet sacred space. Find them below.

1. It should be a place far from household activity centers. Not a place for paying bills or reading reports. Not a place associated with shoulds and ought-tos. And not a place with meaningless clutter or anchored with items that make you feel burdened or sad.
2. It should be a very personal place. Some people surround themselves with symbols that help them relax and 'center'—photos, books, inspiring quotes, or a special gift from a beloved someone. Try to find symbols that trigger awareness of how you are seeking God in your life.
3. Now, ensure you can be comfortable in this space—both with what you're wearing and how you occupy this space. With the space and place set, you can let your mind begin to remember who you are and listen within to God's purpose for you.
4. You may find it helpful, when getting started, to open your time with a favorite prayer—it can be as simple as quiet gratitude for the people you love. If you already have a sacred space, perhaps now is a good time to refresh your space with photos that trigger good memories, special keepsakes, or other images that you think are beautiful or inspirational.
    

 

Your sacred place is a place where you can be true to yourself, where you can live what you believe. It’s something you don’t have to share with anyone else. It’s your own holy ground—return whenever needed. Do you have a sacred space?  If not, commit this Advent to creating a time and space where you can experience your own Silent and Holy Night.

 

 -- Rev. Ray Jordan