The idea that a particular place can bring us closer to God contradicts the idea of omnipresence.
By Jim Hutton
National Geographic recently aired a story on their video channel about sacred relics, focusing in particular on the “crown of thorns” that Jesus is said to have worn when he carried his cross. This “crown” was forced on Jesus by the Romans as a symbol of dishonor. Christians have since transformed it into a symbol of hope and longing to be closer to God. The crown of thorns is kept and protected in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Another sacred symbol is the burning bush that Moses encountered, which is said to still grow in the Monastery of St. Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt. Both Jews and Christians revere this bush as a sacred symbol of God.
And then there’s Islam’s Kaaba, the stone building inside Mecca’s Great Mosque that is the final destination of the Hajj, a pilgrimage undertaken by hundreds of thousands of Muslim believers to demonstrate their faith in Allah.
For those of us who have had the privilege of visiting such places, these sacred relics and places seem to emit a strong energy. They are certainly inspirational. Some pilgrims experience healing and spiritual awakenings. The crutches hanging from the walls of the grotto at Lourdes in France are evidence of this.
The desire to “get closer to God” can be a very strong energy, driving many people to great efforts in terms of travel and personal sacrifices to show signs of their faith. We cannot help but wonder if the spiritual atmosphere surrounding these relics and places could be created by the intense religious fervor of pilgrims who believe that by getting closer to these sacred relics and places they can get closer to the most important God.
The belief that God is only in certain geographical locations actually contradicts a key tenet of most major religions and traditions: omnipresence. Those who believe in the principle of omnipresence assert that God is everywhere, all the time. But if you are looking for God in one place, it means that God is not where you started looking. The idea that God is only in certain places is a very sad idea.
In Eastern religions, Sufism, Kabbalah and other mystical traditions, it is believed that God created us by becoming us. This is known as “emanation.” This means that you don’t have to travel to a specific place or a specific time to find God or get closer to Him. This is good news; all you need to do is turn inward. Turning inward by meditating and listening means going to the inner realm identified by Joel Goldsmith in his book Beyond Word and Thought. It is also called the place of the Supreme Secret.
And the Sufi poet Rumi expressed it eloquently in his poetry.
“Beyond the notions of good and evil,
“There’s a field over there. I’ll meet you there.”
May blessings be yours on your journey.
Jim Hutton is an author, spiritual teacher, and speaker. He lives in Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley. He can be reached at email address.
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