Until recently I worked in a school at the same time as studying for my Degree, Discerning Vocation and usual family and Church Duties, this left very little time for Sacred Space. This may sound strange given my studies and involvement in the church, but with these activities there is always an agenda or deadline that needs to be met. Whilst I do love my studies and my Church Duties it doesn’t fulfill the basic need of my own private exploration of my relationship with God.
The sacred space I didn’t have time for and yet craved was my own private space, just a time when I could sit and know that God is with me, without any agenda or tasks to complete. It is this kind of sacred space which to be honest, has a tendancy to get lost in the ever increasing pace of life today. Whilst I ran my own company I assigned tasks to the day ensuring that I gave enough time for each task and making sure I got done what needed to be done. Why then could I not do the same in my spiritual life?
I like many people put a lot of importance on the coorporate worship that I take part in, and rightly so, it forms a large part of my sipiritual life, being with the people in shared acts of worship and devotion builds a sense of fellowship and allows for active prayer. But this public prayer doesn’t really give a lot of space for private reflection and exploration.
My advice to anyone is to make space for personal exploration of your relationship with God, there are many ways to do this, whilst out walking the dog, whilst gardening, listening to music or even just sitting quietly in a space where you can be left to your thoughts for a while. However you do it, making space to listen to God and your own thoughts can be a very rewarding and spiritually recharging time.
My personal favourite is to listen to music, anything that suits my mood, but something that I am familiar with and as I listen to this familiar sound I allow my thoughts to follow their own path and engage with them.
Give it a go. Find space in your own life and make is Sacred, give time to explore and develop youe own relationship with God.