Stand Ye In Holy Places

We talked about standing in holy places at church today. While the discussion was taking place, I imagined having a spot in my home called the "Holy Place." Just a little reading nook surrounded by a cone of silence. You know, nothing major. And, if it's not too much to ask, a button that summons Rosie the robot who will clean my house and feed my children until I'm feeling a little more "holy."

The more I think about it, the more I like this idea of having a space to retreat and regroup. I think a secluded spot to gather myself together again would be great, but where? Let's see…the bathroom? "Mommy! Are you in there? Can you see my fingers?"Maybe not. Oh, I know! My room! I can just lock the door..."Mommy! (banging on door) Mommy, the door's locked! (rattles handle) I can't open it! Mommy, open the door!" I may need to add some headphones into this equation. My kids can sense a closed door from across the house. For some reason, this really disturbs their little world. They freak out like I've hitched a ride to Australia. Hmmm...Australia. No...no, not practical.

Joking aside, my home is supposed to be a refuge from the storms of the world, not just for me, but for my family and those we invite within its walls. So, what does a holy place look like? I imagine it to be a safe place, a spiritual refuge. A place where the Spirit can teach, where words are kind and love is felt. It is a place of repentance and forgiveness. Anyone who has been inside an LDS temple knows what it feels like to be in a holy place. This is the pattern I want to use in my home. The temple is also always clean and quiet, but there are no graham crackers, Legos or little voices that know only one volume. I don't think the Lord will mind if I file "spotless" and "quiet" under "unattainable" right now, but that doesn't mean that a spiritual refuge is out of my grasp. Sometimes, holy places are covered in grape jelly and filled with very loud, high-pitched voices.

Making my home a holy place starts with me. I am the heart of my home. You know the saying, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobodyhappy"? Well, I believe it goes the other way too. I have a strong influence over the tone and mood of our home. It's a big responsibility, and sometimes I feel overwhelmed by it. My inner toddler has been known to throw an "it's not fair" fit over it (usually an Oreo and a nap quiets her down). But, that’s just the way it is. If I want my home to be a holy place, I need to scheduletime to feed my spirit through prayer, scripture study and meditation (6am anyone?). It means I need to check my spiritual meter during the day, and recharge when I'm running low. Maybe that means locking my bedroom door and clearing a spot in my closet. I can't and I'm not expected to do it alone. The Lord is invited into holy places. In fact, holy places are centered on Christ. Through the Spirit, He is there to guide, teach, listen, and heal.

Making my home a holy place means that I forgive myself like I forgive others. That's an important one for me. I'm not perfect. Not even close. I married someone just as imperfect, and we passed it on to our children. That's okay, because holy places aren't filled with perfect people. They are filled with people who love each other and are willing to repent and forgive. Holy places have people who repeatedly fail but keep working, because holy places are places of learning. In holy places, we study and pray together, we serve each other, and we lift each other up.

I want my home to be a holy place, so my family can have the experiences we need to fortify ourselves against the bombardment of the world. I imagine us taking that little piece of heaven with us as we interact with friends and neighbors, sharing light and love wherever we go. I hope we can spread peace and joy in our daily travels, and when the storms come, we can find refuge in our holy places.

--Holly