Chapter 12: Finding a Holy Place
In this chapter, Barnes continues with the theme that
neither “the church, the small group, one’s parent, pastor, mentor, or
spiritual director” can be the living water. “At their best, at their very best, these teachers of
spirituality are only preparing the way for another.” (p. 168)
In your conversations with God, do you tend to skirt the
“real questions,” (What are you looking
for?) that may be too powerful or painful to tackle? Barnes says that “Jesus will put up
with our petitions about relationships, health, work, and the many concerns of
our daily life, but only in order that he might reveal more of himself to us
through them.” (p. 169) Do you
agree?
What are some things you, personally, need to let go of in
order to slip through the narrow door to enter the holy place?
What is the meaning of a “holy place?” Is it a place at all? Is it a building, or a sanctuary or a
room that has been set apart so that we can feel closer to God there? Or does it reside within us? Or does it reside in community? Barnes seems to say that we take the
holy place with us, wherever we are in our daily lives. It is “where we do all the ordinary
things as extraordinary acts of faithfulness to the God who led us there.” (p.
176) Can this outlook change our everyday interactions and mindset?
Do you know people who have incorporated this outlook into
their lives, who you can use as examples for this way of living?
Barnes points out that when the Gospel writers were telling
stories about Jesus, they frequently begin with “as Jesus was walking along,
something happened…” Barnes uses this as a metaphor for our lives – we can’t
stay in one place, spiritually, mentally, or emotionally, even when that place
is very comfortable. The way of
faith means that we should be “on the move,” constantly growing. What do you think of this challenge?
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