Experience peace in the thin places
The ancient Celts spoke of “thin places” as being especially holy. They believed the separation of heaven and earth was three feet…and thinner in some places. The Celtic Christians came up in conversation frequently in my home. Never have I felt more comfort in this idea than in the 4 months since my father passed away. And I am not alone, we can all experience peace in the thin places.
What are “thin places?”
It is easier to explain the feeling one gets in the “thin places” than it is to provide a concrete definition. Have you ever experienced a view so majestic it took your breath away? Have you ever entered a space which gave you goosebumps? Have you ever been in the presence of someone who seems to exude love? These are all the kinds of places, people, and experiences which make up the “thin places” of the Celtic Christians.
“We’re in the territory, here, of the ineffable: the stuff we can’t express because it’s beyond the power of language to do so. Explanations aren’t merely useless; they threaten to get in the way. The experience of a thin place feels special because words fail, leaving stunned silence.”
Oliver Burkman, The Guardian
A self-described, non-religious writer wrote this quote. It seems belief is not a requirement for experiencing peace in thin places. These places expose us to the sacred and divine no matter who we are and what we believe. I recently visited Yosemite. As we drove into the valley through the tunnel, we emerged in a space which took my breath away. Complete awe is the closest explanation of the feeling. It was timeless, eternal, and (to me) definitely divine. As I watched those around me looking at the same view; I could see us all paused in a moment. It was clearly a “thin place” for us all.
What roles do thin places play?
When I was growing up, my father talked about the “thin places” more often as he studied the Celtic Christians. He traveled to the Isle of Iona in his beloved Scotland and experienced it. He would often pause after reading a particular scripture. In the pause, and the emotion on his face, I knew it was one of those “thin places” for him. He taught me the habit of looking for these places and just soaking it in. This indescribable feeling of awe, peace and time standing still was one of our favorite things to discuss and point out to each other.
“Thin places” provide a tangible experience with the divine. A brief enough moment to be certain of the reality of something larger than myself…but only for a moment so as not to overwhelm. Jocelyn Sideco writes, “Thin places create a home for the space between us, this mystery, to envelop us.” This describes the moment so well. Entering into the same space as the divine can only be given to us in small increments; but imagine if this taste gives us a glimpse into what is to come.
Thin places, Christmas and peace
So again, what do the thin places have to do with Christmas? It was with the coming of the Christ that the two worlds (divine and earthly) were briefly straddled. Jesus was both…fully human and fully divine. My dad and I would discuss Celtic Christianity often and he felt it was pretty close to perfect in explaining his concept of heaven and earth. When he passed a few months ago, I thought immediately about this and smiled at the comfort that came from knowing he wasn’t always so far away.
Christmas was the moment when Emmanuel (God with us) arrived. He was both fully human and fully divine. Jesus experienced what it is like here on earth, as well as what it was like in the great beyond. Those times and spaces which are thin provide us with just a glimpse. Lacey Clark Ellman writes “...the veil between the world and the spiritual realm diminished and they could encounter those who had gone before them.”
During my grief over my father’s passing, this idea provides so much comfort. I feel as if I still share brief moments with him, even as he awaits us all on the other side. Whether a beautiful sunset, a scripture which brings comfort, or a beautiful heron in the tree above, the space between heaven and earth is not such a concrete divide anymore for me. It’s a bit porous and breathes. It gives hope…and what could be more important to experience during Christmas? It is my prayer that you will experience peace in the thin places, too.
Next week: Celebrating Epiphany
