Know Your Thin Spaces

“Thin spaces” are the places or experiences in our lives where we can easily or naturally encounter God—where we can readily feel God’s presence. They are the places of “holy ground” in our lives. There are three primary ways thin places can show up in our lives:

• Special places. We might not visit these thin spaces often, but when we do, we may feel the presence of God in an almost overwhelming way. Many of mine are places in nature such as the beach, the North Georgia mountains, or my grandparents’ farm. These places invite me to understand the vastness and creative power of God.

• Basic rhythms and routines. As humans, we often build lives full of habits and rituals. Throughout the day, there are routine moments that easily allow us to find God. These rhythms of life can often serve as reminders of God and God’s gifts.

• Favorite prayer methods. We each have favorite ways to spend time with God that are so familiar to us, they are like slipping on a worn pair of jeans. They bring instant comfort and ease, and they make the return to prayer and stillness happen quickly. My mind, body, and heart, without even thinking about it, know that starting one of these prayer methods readies me to be still and quiet before God.

Knowing our thin spaces helps set us up for ongoing growth in our relationship with God. When we know these places, we can return to them frequently to easily find God.

Becky Eldredge is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and the author of Busy Lives & Restless Souls. Learn more at BeckyEldredge.com or on Facebook and Instagram. Portions of these devotions are adapted or excerpted from Busy Lives & Restless Souls (Loyola Press, 2017) © Becky Eldredge, used by permission.