Be thin for Jesus

Thin places: no, not a reference to the church halls, leisure centres and other generic community hubs that host slimming world meetings; these are special locations in which many folk have testified to having strange and otherworldly experiences. The idea is that there are some places in this otherwise mundane and drab world where the veil between our reality and a hidden, spiritual reality is particularly thin, and it is possible for crossover and interaction between the two worlds to take place. This may seem a little bit too Derek Acorah for some, but don't consign it to the BS waste bin too quickly. The idea is an ancient one originating in the mists of ancient Celtic mythology, where the heroes of Britannia and Hibernia would find themselves transported to an idyllic land of wonders after sitting on a hill, or venturing into a cave. There have been many archaeological finds of offerings given to various gods, spirits and movie stars native to this archipelago deposited in lakes, rivers, trees and caves that were considered thin places. Later, Christians came along and nicked the idea (standard) and started dedicating these same spots to their saints (albeit taking it one step further by burying severed heads, hands and other grizzly appendages).

So why this splurge of useless information? Well, recently I've started taking the idea of thin places seriously. Being a good Baptist up to this point in my journey, I've never before been into bells and smells, regimented prayer times and other such religious paraphernalia, but in the words of Oz's favourite wicked witch, "something has changed within me." Since we started Llan back in September 2012, I thought it would be a good idea to try and establish a rhythm of prayer, as it seemed like the kind of thing a monk would do. So I invited anyone who was up for it to meet at The Gate at 8.15am to pray a morning office. Initially it was just me and one other from the community who attended, and now seven months on it's still just me and one other. Oh well. But that's not the point I want to make here.

Many folk might see having to come to a same place every day to say the same prayers as just another religious rule that doesn't mean anything, but in all honesty that is not my experience. Coming to this same place at this same time, going through the ritual of setting up our makeshift chapel (complete with print of Rembrandt's Return Of The Prodigal Son, stone Celtic cross and tea light), spending moments in silence to bring to mind God's love that is "new every morning", saying the same words from psalms and other ancient sources, holding our loved ones before God....it becomes something more than the sum of its parts. The light begins to represent God's presence with you in that place, the words begin to seep into your inner being and set your soul on fire with their truth, the picture begins to speak of God's mercy in a language that communicates directly with your spirit. That place, that time, that rhythm...it has become a thin place for me, a place where I meet with God.

I really, really hope that more people will come to see the mystery and power in rhythms and practises like this. They're not dead, they're very much alive. Thin places may not be found on a hill in Suffolk under a full moon any more, instead they can be found literally anywhere folk are able and willing to open themselves to the Ancient Spirit.

Learning from the past, adapting for the present, stepping into the future.

Llan: pioneering thin places since 2012.