Where Is Your Church?

God is in every place; think of every place as a church.  

     -- Jeremy Taylor  1613-1667

 In a great Cathedral, we are breathless at the soaring arches and dazzling stained glass windows. In a redwood forest, we feel enveloped in peace. Spending time contemplating a rose, we enter into a deeper relationship with Beauty. In a bustling crowd, we can suddenly see the many faces of God. Even in the seemingly uninspired places, there is God waiting for us to look beyond appearances, to shine our light and love, to be a lifter.

As we approach life with spiritual openness, we begin to discover that it is true, every place, every thing, every one is sacred. We come to worship and celebrate wherever we may be.

If we carried with us today in our hearts the quote from Jeremy Taylor, we might make some amazing discoveries.  Try it in the (church) grocery store, in the (church) park, in the (church) bookstore, in the (church) slum, wherever you go or whatever see on television or the internet - see a church. Then of course, the next step might be - how do I behave in church? Do I see others as spiritual brothers and sisters? Do I have a joyous attitude? Am I prayerful and caring? Can I be that wherever I am? Can I grow to act and think at all times as if I am in the Presence of God, for I am. Wherever I am, God is.

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?

To be out of your sight?

If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you. 

               Psalm 139:7-12 The Message translation