Places of Spiritual Significance

My wife and I recently completed a “40 Day Prayer Challenge” that we were participating in with some good friends of ours. There were numerous things that happened over that time – many that could be considered miracles – to and through, each and every one of us. There are probably a dozen stories that could be written about. Right now, though, I’d like to spend a couple of minutes sharing about a concept that was mentioned late in the study (Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson), that we were using as a guide for the challenge.

Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
And Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:1-5)

On Day 38, Batterson brings up this concept of “places of spiritual significance.” He references Moses, David, Abraham and Peter, and how they all most certainly had a strong connection – and probably revisited – certain geographic and physical places that were strongly connected with their faith. More specifically, associated with their relationship and interaction with God.

I didn’t even finish reading the paragraph about this before one of my own places of spiritual significance came rushing to mind. Now, I’ve thought about this place many times in the 13 years since I was there, but not quite in the way that it struck me when I layered in this idea of feeling a desire to go back because of wanting to “renew my faith”, as Batterson describes.

The most prominent of these places in my life – and the one that came quickly to mind – was a park in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho called Tubbs Hill. I was attending an analytics conference and given I live on the east coast, I was awake “stupid early” as I like to call it, each of the four days I was there. I also learned that week, that in June, the sun rises very early in that part of the country. So, between my internal clock telling me it was time to get up and the sun coming into agreement with that, by 4:00 AM every morning I was ready to go!

One morning I decided to get some fresh air and go for a walk. The place I was staying was right on the lake and so the views and landscapes were just gorgeous. During the walk, I came across the park, which was really a big hill that jutted out in to the lake. It’s about 120 acres with miles of trails and paths. It called to me…

And this is where it got interesting. This is what went through my head:

“I don’t have enough time to walk through this place, I have to get back to breakfast and the conference.”

“There aren’t any maps of these trails. Um, what if I get lost?”

“I’m by myself, maybe this isn’t a good idea?”

“This would be so much more fun if my wife were with me. She would love this! I don’t want to experience this without her.”

There were more thoughts, but let’s just say they could all be summarized by, “I really want to wimp out right now – no one would ever know – I want to experience this, it’s probably really cool, but this is really out of my comfort zone and I really like being in control of things.” I can’t explain it, but as these last few thoughts were going through my head, I started up the hill and onto the first trail. I remember thinking – actually praying – “OK, God, I’m going to trust you with this one!”

What happened over the course of the next hour or two (I honestly can’t remember how long I was there) was that I became, to that point in time, the most spiritually connected I had ever been to God. It really was just me and Him on that hike. We talked. I asked him which way to go, (you’d be amazed how many times a path went off in two different directions!) I stood in awe at times of His beautiful creation. And I refused to be afraid. I refused to be worried about the time. I didn’t care if I was late to breakfast. I accepted – more at that point than ever before – that God was in control and I was not. It was an absolutely incredible morning.

All of this to say, when Batterson used that phrase, “places of spiritual significance”, I knew exactly what he was talking about. There are others in my life, too. Over the last several days my wife and I have been sharing places with each other as they come to mind. Places that we visit often, but other places, like Tubbs Hill in Coeur d’Alene Idaho, that we really want to go back to. I know God is everywhere, but some places really are unique to our faith journey. Someday, we’ll get the opportunity to go back there and I know it’s going to be special.

I knew that that morning was a pivotal moment in my life. As soon as I returned home, I framed a picture I took of the rock (which had the only "map" I could find!) at one of the trail-heads, it stays near where I do a lot of reading and journaling. It’s a reminder of that place and of what took place that day.

So… what are the places of spiritual significance for you? Does one come to mind right away? If not, think about it. It might help you to understand the work that God did in you there.  And, there will probably be other places in the future, so, keep your eyes out for those burning bushes. You never know where God will want to declare to you, “this is Holy ground!”