Thin Places
In Celtic tradition, "thin places" are locations or moments where the veil between heaven and earth feels particularly thin. It's not that God is absent elsewhere, but in these spaces, the presence of the divine feels more palpable, more accessible. Think of it as a window into the sacred, a place where the spiritual world feels close enough to touch.
The Celts visited these God-is-close places, such as Iona, the wind-swept isle in Scotland, or the rocky peak of Croagh Patrick. They found a transformational peace there.
In the Bible, we might view a thin place as Jacob declaring Bethel as “surely God is in this place” in Genesis 28. Or Mount Sinai in Exodus 19 as God appears in the clouds and provides the Ten Commandments. Perhaps if we could return to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus taught, the place would feel thin. In all these places, the distance between heaven and earth seems to collapse. The boundary between the divine and everyday life is permeable. It is a place where we are our true selves in the presence of our Creator. Thin places are still accessible today. God is near.
These places can be physical – a windswept mountaintop, an ancient cathedral, or a quiet forest. They can also be moments in time – a moment of profound joy, a quiet act of service, or a solitary moment of blessing.
Why Should We Care?
As Christ-followers, we believe in the omnipresence of God. Yet, we also know the power of encountering God in specific ways and places. The concept of "thin places" reminds us that God's presence can be experienced in the everyday, in the ordinary moments of our lives if we see them as potential places to encounter God. It encourages us to be more aware, more open to the divine breaking through. We must seek the thin moments.
If there are thin places, then there must be thick places as well. These thick places seem as if God is far away, or perhaps non-existent. We create these barriers of thickness in our worry and misguided thinking. The wall between us and God thickens when we pursue self-reliance. We engage in sinful pride. We trust our power more than the sovereignty of God. We erect thick barriers as we compartmentalize life. God fits only here, the rest is up to me. We must be reminded to seek the thin places.
Finding Thin Places in Your Life:
Here are some ways you can cultivate an awareness of "thin places" in your daily life:
Spend time in nature: The natural world is often a place where the veil feels thin. Take time to hike in the woods, walk along the beach, or simply sit under a tree. Pay attention to the beauty around you and allow yourself to feel connected to God's creation.
Engage in spiritual practices: Prayer, meditation, and worship can create thin places in our lives. When we quiet our minds and focus on God, we open ourselves to the possibility of encountering the divine.
Serve others: Acts of service can be powerful thin places. When we focus on the needs of others, we often find ourselves encountering God in unexpected ways.
Embrace community: Sharing our lives with other Christ-followers can create thin places. When we gather in fellowship, we can experience the love and presence of God in a deeper way.
Pay attention to the moments: Be present in your daily life. Notice the small moments of beauty, joy, and connection. These moments can be glimpses into the sacred, reminders that God is always with us.
While the concept of "thin places" can be a beautiful and enriching part of our faith, it's important to remember that God is not confined to specific locations or moments. God is always present, even when we don't feel it. The goal of seeking "thin places" is not to limit God but to expand our awareness of God's presence in all aspects of our lives.
The concept of "thin places" invites us to see the world with new eyes, to recognize the sacred in the ordinary. As Christ-followers, we can embrace this concept as a way to deepen our relationship with God and to experience the divine in the everyday moments of our lives. Go there.