Thin Place Residue

My friend and I facilitate a monthly quiet morning called  “A Morning Apart”.  Folks gather in community for two hours listening to scripture using the ancient art of Lectio Divina, followed by time to be with God in the silence.  At the close of our gathering, there is a group reflection, where people briefly share their experience of the morning.

Last Saturday our theme was “The Thin Places:  Can you hold on to Holy Moments?”  You know, those times when you can feel the very Presence of something other than yourself, a God noticing!  No matter how large or small, you have been “touched by the whisper of God” (a quote from Noticing God by Richard Peace)  

The scripture passage was on the Transfiguration, Matthew 17:1-8.  Talk about Thin Places!  Can you just imagine going up the mountain with Jesus, seeing Elijah and Moses and hearing the voice of God?!    And Peter’s reaction, after the amazement and fear - let me build a dwelling for each of them so this moment can be contained!

You see, I get that response.  Please God, let me stay in the Holy Moment, don’t let it slip away; let me bask in the light of feeling You and having no doubts.  But of course, that doesn’t happen, just as Peter couldn’t save the Transfiguration by erecting a memorial.

During the quiet space, we often times offer the opportunity to explore a spiritual discipline, which somehow connects to the scripture.  Since my friend is the director of the church preschool, she suggested having a big tub of “goop”!  Unless you have a young child or grandchild, this concoction might elude you!  It’s a very simple mixture of water and cornstarch.  It’s fun digging in, trying to grasp the cornstarch, which has settled at the bottom of the tub.  And as hard as one tries, it is impossible to grip the substance for any length of time; it naturally slips between the fingers.

My “ah-ha moment” came during the closing reflection.  One of the participants shared of her experience with the goop, how she could not clutch it in her hand, but that it left a residue even as it dripped back into the tub.  Yes!  I thought, I’m not left alone!  I can’t enshrine the Thin Places, but they have etched a place in my soul, where I can reach back and relive the moments.

Let me close with a Celtic definition:

“Thin Places”…The Celts call this place,

Both seen and unseen,

Where the door between this world

And the next is cracked open for a moment

And the light is not all on the other side…Holy Space

 The Altar