The Value of Sacred Spaces.
On Friday I felt prompted to take the day off from the day job and to return to Buckfast Abbey, which is near to where I’m currently saying. I’m grateful that I did, not least due to the amount of learning I’ve been doing recently – plenty to digest.
Buckfast itself is something of an isolated oasis, with the Abbey an obvious focal point. As I spent the afternoon sat at a picnic table, I watched people of all ages walk by. There was no commotion, no raised voices or excitement, just peace, tranquility and even what you might call reverence. I noticed how visitors would examine the Abbey building, lifting their gaze and asking questions of it in their head. That was a common sight.
Better Connection for Better Outcomes
I find that spending time in sacred spaces that have been created for the purpose of facilitating human connection with the divine is a useful way of reconnecting spiritually. I certainly found an enhanced degree of inspiration, as I felt guided in my digestion of recent lessons.
I also felt guided in my approach to inviting three high profile academics in north America whose work I’m interested in (none of whom I knew beforehand) to speak with me on the Real Clear Values podcast. This guidance was propitious, as all three accepted my invitation in surprisingly short order, making for some stimulating conversations in the coming weeks.
Sanctuary in the City
If my experience on Friday wasn’t enough to remind me of the value of sacred spaces in contexts beyond the purely religious then my experience on Saturday offered a starker example.
On Saturday morning I felt prompted to visit Exeter, particularly the cathedral. I’ll be heading back to Yorkshire soon and it might have been my last chance to visit for some time, so off I went.
As I walked through the city streets, I could see the cathedral in the distance looming over shoppers, diners and pedestrians – a spiritual oasis in the heart of the bustling city.
En route to the cathedral I came across a disparate body of protestors; four separate groups with one single message: kill the bill. “This is what democracy looks like”, they bellowed into the air, as they protested against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which they fear could curtail their right to protest. I stopped to speak with a few of them to learn more about their respective causes and points of view before continuing on my way.
As I approached the famous Gothic structure, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Quasimodo’s cry of “Sanctuary!” in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It very much felt like a place of sanctuary was necessary in the midst of the commotion.
Upon entering the building, I was given a leaflet that included the following words,
“We hope that in this holy place you will feel the presence of nearly a thousand years of prayer. May God bless you in your visit.”
I don’t belong to the particular denomination with which the cathedral is affiliated, but the message is universal.
A young boy of about three years old walked in behind me and instinctively declared to his mother, “This is so beautiful!” Indeed it was – a marked contrast to the hubbub of shoppers and protestors outside the building.
The Place of the Sacred Space
It almost goes without saying that we can’t live lives of purpose, meaning and fulfilment if we seclude ourselves from the noise of the world on a near-permanent basis. But we need regular breaks. As the words of Christ put it in the New Testament, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath”.
It’s also worth considering what constitutes a sacred space. Sacred spaces aren’t exclusively abbeys, cathedrals or other places of worship; they can be also be found in nature (sacred groves, for example) and created within our own homes.
Why not make a room in your house free from clutter and distraction wherein you can reflect on, and digest, life’s lessons while seeking divine inspiration? To sanctify means to set apart as sacred and we can all sanctify somewhere, regardless of religious belief or affiliation.
When I return home this week, I will return to the sacred spaces that I’ve created therein. Those spaces have proven to be valuable in enabling me to get guidance and inspiration for positive results in all aspects of my life. As much as I’ve enjoyed my time in Devon, I’m looking forward to returning home – my spiritual base.
In closing, then, I challenge you: if you haven’t already done so, find, or even create, a sacred space of your own. If you do so earnestly and commit to regularly spending time there for digestion, inspiration and guidance, beyond the distractions of the day, then you will reap the benefits in all aspects of your life.
You may even find an oasis of your own in the process.
If you’d like to know more about how to create a life of purpose, meaning and fulfilment then drop me a line: tom@3stewardships.com.