A recent visit to Maine, an annual pilgrimage, reminded me of the importance of a sense of place. More than geography, health, or economic security, I have come to know that a sense of place is a home in the heart. It is a spiritual center and sense of strength and stability which determines how the rest of life is experienced. We have no guarantees about the circumstances of life and the more mature we become we know deeply life’s potential hazards as well as joys. The external quests for security or place are bound to dissipate. As a culture it seems we avoid or fail to recognize in the end it is only a spiritual homecoming that endures. Do we school our children in this reality? Do we look for leaders who exhibit this character above all else? Do we cultivate the disciplines in our own lives which build spiritual roots and maturity? If you think about it, that’s all we truly possess.
A Sense of Place
