‘Place’ in the practice of religion

There are five pillars on which Islamic faith is built. The fifth pillar requires a faithful Muslim to make a trip to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Every Muslim who is physically able is expected to make the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca and participate in prescribed rituals once in his/her lifetime.

The holy center in Mecca is the Black Stone, said to date from the time of Adam and Eve and put in its present place by Mohammad himself. During the ritual of a visit to Mecca, Muslim faithful circle the stone. Touching the stone is a high spiritual experience. The black marble stone is said to be worn smooth by the fingers of the faithful.

Possibly the best known holy place in the world is the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. The Wall is a part of the foundation of the third and last Jewish temple in Jerusalem. The destruction of the temple was an event that defies description. The temple was the home of God. The home of God on earth was ruthlessly destroyed. A steady stream of people still come to the Wall to mourn the loss of the temple in 70 CE. The Wailing Wall is the centerpiece of a holy city claimed by Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Holy places, though built of common materials, have the power to excite the devotion of believers. It is difficult to imagine Roman Catholics without the Vatican with its St. Peter’s Cathedral or Latter-day Saints without the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.

My own holy place was the beautiful old brick home of the First Baptist Church in Fairbury, Ill. Other than public school buildings, the old church at 2nd and Oak was the place that I visited most often in my growing up. I was baptized there, sang there, prayed there, learned the faith there and listened to thousands of sermons there. In more recent years, the people at First Baptist Church decided they had to move to another location. Not enough parking. They purchased 10 acres of land on the edge of town and built a new campus. I visited Fairbury and my heart could not believe what my eyes saw. A gas station and convenience store now stand at the corner of 2nd and Oak. My holy place had been destroyed. I could have used a wailing wall.

Why do we designate certain places as “holy?” When analyzed with pure logic, holy places are made of very common materials. How does a place become holy? My ponderings beg for an answer.

In my work as a pastor, I have been privileged to work with an enormous variety of people. All were needy in some way. There is no creature that is a fully realized person. Along the way (I did not learn this in college or seminary) I concluded that the needs of most people cannot be addressed until they have a place. Definitions of “place” can vary greatly, but place is a key ingredient in becoming a whole person. Place may be a town or city; place may be a building; place may be a work site; place often is the location that is called home. Place is very tangible, and it is the meeting point between the world in which we live and values that make our lives meaningful. When earth and meaning come together, a holy place is created.

Places that we identify as holy can be almost anything. A holy place might be a large stone that overlooks a mountain stream, or it might be the green pastures or the still waters described in Psalm 23. I suspect a holy place is more likely a church building, a cathedral or a sanctuary that is adorned by stain-glassed windows, fine art, soaring heights and icons of the faith.

As I ponder our national and personal dilemmas, I cannot help but notice the lack of buildings that inspire and leave me awestruck. In modern architecture, form has been overwhelmed by function. Today’s architect is more likely working at a computer rather than an artist’s drawing board. The results are apparent. Located near our home there is an 11-mile-long highway. Along the highway there are several churches. Not a single one of the church structures could be identified as a church building without the sign posted outside the building. Not a single building suggests that it is a holy place.

My favorite Old Testament prophet is Isaiah. In the sixth chapter of the Isaiah writings, we find a description of Isaiah’s encounter with God in a holy place. It probably took place in the Jerusalem temple built under the direction of King Solomon. Isaiah was overwhelmed with religious images as he worshiped. The message was clear. God wanted Isaiah to be a special person with a special message for the people of God. His response was profound and complete. Isaiah responded, “Here I am; I will do whatever you ask.”

Holy places have a profound effect on our lives. A wise community will offer its people multiple places where people can learn who they are and the potential of their lives. Churches should be leading the way in providing truly special places for its community. If we do not, we are left only with another wailing wall.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister who lives in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

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