Thin Places

In the Celtic tradition "Thin Places" are places where the spiritual and the natural world intersect. It is a place where it is possible to touch and be touched by God. "Thin Spaces" are the moments when we experience a deep sense of God’s presence in our everyday world.

A number of weeks ago, my pastor gave a sermon about this idea...about thin places. These literal places where it's so thin that heaven and earth intersect. I've been meaning to write about this for sometime, but just haven't sat down to do it. I believe I have experienced these "thin places" and "thin spaces"; especially with Connor.

I remember when we were at the hospital on Connor's last day of life here on Earth. Jim and I and Connor, along with our families and friends were gathered into a tiny room in the NICU so we could say goodbye to Connor. I held him in my arms and he squeezed my finger with his little hand. His daddy and I were whispering to him and holding him tight while the tears were streaming down our faces. And I remember an empty rocking chair on the other side of Jim. We were all cramped into this little room and I vaguely remember telling people that they could sit in this chair beside Jim and no one did. I believe I mentioned it more than once but it still remained empty.

Months later, this memory came back to me (the memory of the chair) and I wondered...was Jesus rocking in this chair? Was he sitting beside Jim and I as we were cradling our little man and letting him go? Was he embracing us in his arms while sobbing with us? Is this our thin place?

I think so.