Thin Places

Places, locations, and experiences, sometimes outside ourselves, then others, deep down inside our gut. Places that inspire reverence even though the place or event, or feeling may not seem overly spiritual. Yet it inspires reverence even though the place or event, or feeling may not seem overly spiritual.

I have carried a keen interest in this topic over the years, and I’ve studied people who walk between these two worlds and those who have not yet found their place within this conundrum.

I speak of places and activities that otherwise might be defined as secular—not what we normally think of as spiritual or sacred. Yet they inspire reverence and passion in ourselves—those special places or activities that inspire the feeling of transcending the ordinary, which makes us feel more ourselves than any other. Like, we touch our core center, which excites us, and call us to want to stay. Which makes us break deep, raise our arms over our heads and sing to the hills. Those places inspire creativity—that makes us feel connected to something greater than ourselves.

The place that otherwise might be defined as secular—not what we normally think of as scriptural or sacred. Places, locations, or activities which inspire reverence, passion, and/or transcendence outside those we typically think of as sacred or religious—like churches, cathedrals, and monasteries, where the transcendent can feel so breathlessly close.

I am interested in those places outside us that take us deeper into ourselves—those unique places or activities that inspire the feeling of transcending the ordinally, which makes us feel more our self than any other. That excites us, which calls us to want to stay. Which makes us breathe deeper, raise our arms over our heads, and sing to the hills. Those places inspire creativity. That makes us feel connected to something greater than ours.

Places that otherwise might be defined as secular—not what we usually think of as spiritual or sacred.