Sanctuary—an old word harkening back to the feeling you get when your grandma’s quilted blanket is snuggled around you. You can almost smell her love. But then that experience of quilted blankets is itself, old.
Sanctuary—The sense that you‘ve reached home, or at least a space that cuts a slice of home, be it pancakes perfectly made or enchilada’s succulent, surrounding the senses with the texture and spice of a child’s memory when there were no fears, only family.
Sanctuary—is a feeling, the bi-product of space, time and presence—all saying “I know you here, here you are loved.”
The Church is realing from Covid19 shutdown. Will we ever return? Could we ever really leave? I think the latter is the better question. If the building or gathering communicates “I know you here, here you are loved,” then we will find ways to gather until the power of “Sanctuary” again draws us home.
As I sat with Ray, a contractor, my friend
Camielle, his employee and Pastor Shaun this morning talking about how we can restore the basement flooring I was again taken back to the profound beauty of a building that cries out of a historic space over time (100 years) and of Presence (Divine and human) captured in a thousand memories, like yesterday’s: the Christmas breakfast dining and the Children's funny, imaginative story told from within the creative and relational love of their Pastor, Sarah. Time, Space, Presence.
In Mary of Jesus birth, at the time when she felt most alone, isolated from her village, beloved Joseph, mama and Papa—her trip to Elizabeth’s home would have been sanctuary. But she would not have gone there without first going to Jerusalem, the city of the Great King and to her heavenly papa’s home, for sanctuary, unaware that what would get Jesus buried was his own claim that he was/is The Temple (Space), The Sabbath (Time) and One with the Father (Presence).
In today’s reading let’s follow Mary into this Sanctuary.
#1-Video Devotional on “Seeking Sanctuary in Papa’s House”.
#2-Video Devotional on “Mary’s Treasure “
Blessings, Terry :).
From: The Advent of God through Mary: https://www.amazon.com/Advent-God-through-Mary-Devotional/dp/1521033331/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1CYLMZJWLV85
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