Sanctuary

 

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just las you were taught, abounding min thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:1-7 ESV).

 

Winter has decided to show itself this year. The artic cold air that has gripped our country for the last week has been one for the record books in many places. Our son, Aaron, who is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., recently sent us some pictures of the campus. The one I’ve attached to today’s devotional is the cathedral on the university campus. Dedicated in 1893, Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart is a century younger than Georgetown University itself. It is a haven of tranquility and repose, acting as the spiritual heart of the Georgetown community. In this sacred space, generations of students, faculty, staff and alumni have attended services, exchanged sacred vows at weddings, were baptized into the faith or simply stole a quiet moment to recenter their lives. It truly is a beautiful building.

 

Seeing this picture, I am reminded of a book I was given many years ago. The title is The Practice of the Presence of God. It is brief, though full of wisdom. The author, Brother Lawrence, was a friar in France, in the 17^th Century. He shares how he came to realize that wherever he was, it was a good place to connect with God. Because of God’s presence, even places where Lawrence had felt empty and worthless became rich with a sense of belonging. His place in the monastery where he lived was the kitchen. There he learned to cook meals, do dishes, and run errands with God. What seemed a lowly position to others became a retreat and a haven of relationship with God. The kitchen became Lawrence’s sanctuary, where he worshiped in spirit and in truth. Where is your sanctuary? Finding it will make your journey so much easier!