As part of a recent class, I was instructed to take a prayer walk at a local park. I'm used to doing that at my local church. So, I decided my prayer walk that day would be at the church just one block from where I was. This happened to be one of the largest congregations in my denomination. That means the walk took a while.
As I made my way around the huge area, I noticed the usual things you might encounter on a prayer walk. I heard the birds, saw the trees beginning to bloom, heard children playing in a church playground, and noticed how even the wind seemed to be walking with me. At several points, I looked up at the massive building that houses this congregation. When I did, a question came to mind: Why here?
At some point, the land where I walked was nothing like it was that day. Someone decided that this place would be where this church would worship and serve. Was it the potential for community growth? Was there no other place big enough to fit the vision of the church's leaders?
Then I got to thinking more. Why do people keep coming back here? People like me who traveled hours to be there? Then I wondered about all the places we choose to be and not be. What keeps us away from certain places, or what makes some places feel holy and needed, and others feel wasted?
Maybe those are questions you can reflect on about your church and your places.
Churches don't become holy because they are built. They become holy because people keep showing up, praying, singing, confessing, and hoping.
As I finished my walk, the question still lingered: Why here? For that moment, I left it at a simple answer. Because somewhere along the way, people discovered that God was already waiting here.
Stay blessed...john
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