Everyday Holy Ground

Recently reading a question during my quiet time provoked a new perspective on my daily moments. The question was, “How would your days change if you knew each moment was spent on Holy Ground?”

At first, I thought it an absurd proposition. Nothing about my days looked anything like Holy Ground. I spent my days pushing through the mundane to get to the sacred spaces.

The only problem with that mentality is I never arrive at the soul savoring times of sacred stillness. My narrow view of segregating my days into “work and responsibilities” verses sacred solitude results in a frustrating imbalance.

Which looks more like me insisting my work and responsibilities be complete before I am able to enjoy my relished times of sacred solitude.

In the same vein as the separation of church and state, I refuse to allow any work-related activities on Holy Ground.

All a flawed mentality like this accomplishes is the reinforcement of never reaching Holy Ground, because everyone knows work and home responsibilities are never completely “done.”

Most days, thinking of spending any moments on Holy Ground is unattainable, must less all of my moments. After laughing as a way of relieving the nervous energy generated by the question, I politely turned my attention to my To Do List.

But the question never left my mind.

Then one day as I finished reading the gospel of Matthew, the words “Low I am with you always…” (Matthew 28:20) took on new meaning. Yes, I found comfort in remembering Christ’s promise to never leave me, especially in times of trial and grief.

But in that moment a new perspective began forming.

Back in Exodus 3:5 God instructed Moses to remove his shoes at the burning bush because he was standing on Holy Ground. The Presence of God in the burning bush made the ground holy.

Remarkably, this encounter with God’s Presence on Holy Ground took place in the normal pace of Moses’ every day.

Math was never my top subject, but I adored Algebra. Orderly and predictable, in algebra the numbers moved at your command in all kinds of ways. Take the Transitive Law:

If X equals Y, and Y equals Z, then X [also] equals Z.

And all is right with the world. Like emerging from a fog-filled valley, everything became clear for me. Holy Ground. Ground made holy by God’s Presence.

This was the promise Christ gave His disciples at the end of the Gospel of Matthew— He would be with them always.

He promised the Holy Spirit would come after His ascension to dwell inside of us (John 14:26) making us the dwelling place of God. Back to my Transitive Law:

If I am the dwelling place of God’s Presence, and God’s Presence is Holy Ground, then wherever I am is Holy Ground because He is there.

Here we come full circle from the question which started it all, “How would your days change if you knew each moment was spent on Holy Ground?”

Truly grasping that all of my moments whether work-related or personal, transact on Sacred Ground, not only changed the way I view my days, but it changed the way I live my days.

Leaning into the truth of God’s Presence as Holy Ground altered the way I moved through my days.

Instead of rushing or pushing to get to sacred space, I realized a simple pause grounded me in His Presence any time I needed the rest He promises.

Facing unexpected challenges no longer need derail my day, He would lead, strengthen and comfort.

Moments of anxiety, uncertainty or fear could be placed immediately in His able and caring hands.

Sorrow, grief and loneliness could find the comfort of His nearness.

Seriously viewing God’s Presence as Sacred Ground also offered those gentle reminders to exercise kindness and patience with others.

As well as a place of immediate forgiveness when going astray.

When the old urge to push and shove my way through my day poked at my insides or the familiar anxiety of “getting it all done” stole my peace, I whispered, “every moment holy” and settled back onto Sacred Ground.

The biggest amazement for me came in the incredible calm which overspread my days. Reminding my often-chaotic mind and heart we stood on Sacred Ground transformed my work atmosphere, home atmosphere and relational atmosphere.

I know every day will not look the same and I will stumble off the path of Holy Ground more times than I desire, but a simple pause will ground me back into the holy Presence always with me.

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