Sacred Places

Flag Fen Causeway

A recent mini-TV series looked at places held sacred since prehistoric times.  Apart from the fact that humans have always had some idea of spiritual things and the mystery of some super-being beyond our understanding, it was interesting to see just what and where was considered sacred.  There was much ancestor worship as it was considered that those who had died and gone before were able somehow to link the living with the other, spiritual world.  It has been discovered that during the Bronze Age, a vast causeway was built across fens at Flag Fen near Peterborough.  Water was seen not just as a source of life but also of reverence.  The belief was that the place where the water met the land was the place where life met the spiritual world.  Small holes in part of the causeway were made for offerings to be made to whatever superior spirit inhabited such sacred places. 

Today we might smile at such beliefs thinking them to be naive and superstitious.  I often wonder in another 1000 years from now what humans will think of our present day religious beliefs and ways.  But throughout the ages humanity has thought of certain places as sacred where you can meet spiritual beings and have some sort of spiritual experience.  This is no less true of Christians with their buildings, shrines and relics.  Many still flock to certain places that have experienced some outpouring of God, it seems, almost in the hope of 'catching' something and being able to transport it back with them to their own locality, as though God was some commodity that you can bottle and transport around the world.  We know of course in truth that God is everywhere so why do we continue to think along these lines? 

Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream of
the 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine 

In the early books of the Bible, Noah spoke to and listened to God speaking to him without any specific place; Abraham followed God's leading into a new place to live without any direction or input from any spiritual leader of his day; Jacob had encounters with God during his long journey; Joseph had the spiritual gift of interpreting dreams both at his home with his family and while in prison in Egypt; the Israelites learned that God was with them during their long years of trekking through the desert.  All these experiences were way before any temple or synagogues were built.  The early Christians knew of God's presence for 400 years before any Christian buildings were erected.  Jesus said that we are temples of the living God, that the Kingdom of God is within us. 

Godfrey Birtill

They say that we are nearer to God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.  This of course is rubbish theology but we have to admit that there are some places and circumstances that seem more conducive to being aware of God's presence and of Him speaking to us.  There is a danger in giving more prominence to such 'sacred' places than is rightfully due and the visiting of such places becomes all important.  For me (and others) who have now opted out of the organised form of meeting together to seek God, it is reaffirming to know that God is still present whether in a place considered to be sacred or not, in some quiet secluded spot or in the midst of the hub-bub of everyday living.  He is everywhere, present so everywhere is a God space.  Yet we still insist on thinking about places as being sacred or secular.  A church building is considered a sacred place while a public house is not.  I love the sentiment in Godfrey Birtill's song about being ready for the glory of God to fall wherever.  Philip Williams put together some slides with the words while at the same time you are able to hear Godfrey singing.  You can hear this song here.  It's well worth a listen if you haven't heard it before (and even if you have!).  All life and places everywhere are sacred, for God is with us in and through it all.  Wherever I am - 'Bring it on, Lord!'