Address

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord. – Psalm 84:1-2 (NRSV)

Wouldn’t you love to know for sure that God lives in a place? A particular place, mind you, not a “God is everywhere” kind of place? It’s great that some people reliably meet God at the beach, or the mountains, or in their church sanctuary. I’ve met God in the breaking of the bread and the blessing of the water. No complaints in that department.

But don’t you sometimes long for a location, a pin on a map? Don’t you crave a location where we can all meet, a place to which to make pilgrimage, a place to mark the end to a journey so you can say, “There! I did that!”?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place that we all agreed was the place? Not just a thin place or whatever, but the place wherein dwelt the Creator? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to go to visit, maybe hang out for a while in the Presence?

I know, I know. Who declares which spot that is? Even in biblical times, the location of God’s house was disputed. And even if we could agree on the location, who owns it? Who controls it? Who gets access, and who decides? I know. More problems than it solves, really. A mature faith doesn’t need that sort of physicality. I know.

But still. Sometimes, don’t you wish God just had an address?

Prayer
I know you’re everywhere God. I know you’re promiscuous in the best way, make yourself known in a thousand places and modes. I know it’s better than the alternative. I know. And still… Amen.

About the Author
Quinn G. Caldwell is a father, husband, homesteader and preacher living in rural upstate New York. His most recent book is a series of daily reflections for Advent and Christmas called All I Really Want: Readings for a Modern Christmas. Learn more about it and find him on Facebook at Quinn G. Caldwell.