Finding Sacred Spaces Amidst the Noise

Photos by Katie Rea

“The best place to find God is in a garden.”
George Bernard Shaw

Adventures are important for the soul. Whether you plan a family vacation or a kid free mini vacation, getting away from our daily routines is important. My husband and I love mountain retreats and we tend to find places outside of the normal tourist destinations. We drove the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway and found ourselves in Mentone, Alabama.

Much to my delight, I found an Open Spaces Sacred Places™ plaque at St. Joseph’s on-the-Mountain Episcopal Church. OSSP projects utilize the beauty of nature to bring us to a place of healing and peace. These sacred places also seek to connect us to the divine or the spiritual realm.

I spent my Saturday morning walking the labyrinth and enjoying the gardens. My never-ending to-do list was forgotten, and I simply basked in the rays of sunlight dancing among the trees and welcomed the scents of the white hydrangeas and pink and yellow daylilies surrounding me.

We live in a world which is in constant movement. There’s always something to do and somewhere to go. We are worker bees in a hive, and we tend to forget it isn’t healthy not to take some quiet time to ourselves. It’s important to seek out places of solitude and stillness to recharge our souls. We are reminded of something greater than ourselves and often find a new sense of perspective in our own lives.

We forget to take a much-needed break.

Evidence suggests we need sacred spaces. Spending time in nature helps lower stress in our lives and has a positive impact on our mental health and well-being. We could also feel more connected to the people we love and society in general. My concerns or problems didn’t just go away, but I they didn’t feel as burdensome, and I no longer felt as alone.

My husband and I found a map which showed sixteen OSSP places, particularly in Northeastern Alabama. We plan to visit more of these areas.

We also plan to come back to Mentone, Alabama. We hiked to the overlook of DeSoto Falls and visited Little River Canyon National Preserve. I love taking sunset pictures and my husband and I gathered at a park overlooking the mountain range. We watched the sky turn a brilliant orange in the Canadian wildfire smoke before the sun hid itself amid the mountaintops.

It was a weekend of sacred spaces.

I’d encourage you to find your time of sacred space. Whether in the mountains or at a beach, a garden at a local park or even in your own backyard, remember to take time out of your busy schedule to relax and enjoy life.

We need to find our sacred spaces amidst the noise of our fast-paced world. So, relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of our everyday life. I encourage you to find your own sacred place. Adventures are important for the soul.

“Life must have its sacred moments and its holy places. We need the infinite, the limitless, the uttermost — all that can give the heart a deep and strengthening peace.”
A. Powell Davies