Reclaiming Our “Sacred Spaces”

/ Yinka (Anthonia) Gansallo-Lawrence

Distraction, Downtime, Discouragement, Disappointment, Disapproval…

Why do we give up our sacred space so easily? Because space is scary. During these temporary voids of distraction, our minds return to the uncertainty and fears that plague all of us. To escape this chasm of self-doubt and unanswered questions, we tune into all of the activity and data for reassurance.

Ever had a moment in the shower, when you are completely isolated, and your mind is able to wander and churn big questions without interruption. However, despite the incredible power and potential of sacred spaces, they are quickly becoming extinct. We are depriving ourselves of every opportunity for disconnection. And our imaginations suffer the consequences.

The need to be connected is, in the largest and most fundamental human desires. Our need for a sense of belonging comes right after physical safety. We thrive on friendship, family, and the constant affirmation of our existence and relevance. Our self-esteem is largely a product of our interactions with others. It is now possible to always feel loved and cared for, thanks to the efficiency of our “comment walls” on Facebook and seamless connection with everyone we’ve ever known. Your confidence and self-esteem can quickly be reassured by checking your number of “followers” on Twitter or the number of “likes” garnered by your photographs and blog posts.

But really! – do we require this insatiable need to tune in (insecurity work) to reassure ourselves? We cannot rely on spaces that force us to unplug to survive much longer, we must be proactive in creating these spaces for ourselves. And when we have a precious opportunity to NOT be connected, we should develop the capacity to use it and protect it.

Reclaim your own sacred space today – cultivate a healthy habit that does not need external approval. Join the gym, Read or write a book, turn off all electronics, roll on the floor with the kids, sing in the shower, laugh out loud and cry if it hurts! drop by a shelter or visit an elderly neighbor, reach out to someone needy -and best of all – Spend quality time within your heart – your “sacred space”.

I am believing someone to finally reclaim their long abandoned space – fill the void by settling down after De-cluttering, have confidence about Waiting and exhale freely in their new Space.

May God help us all.
Yinka.

13 thoughts on “Reclaiming Our “Sacred Spaces””

  1. You have done it again Yinka: I have just discovered another great light through your eye opening thought; its like what Eve gave to Adam.
    I have always known that the heart is our Sacred Space but today, in the light of your words, this understanding is further projected to see my godself (spirit), who should appropriately occupy this sacred place called home.
    Though the heart is a tender part of our being, yet the tenderness is lovingly made strong and essential by the resident occupant which is a belief called feeling by reason of this connection with the heart. What is in our heart? Rather, who occupies this sacred place? Is it not acknowledged as life desire because it is in our heart? Afterall, where a man’s treasure is, there is heart will be. This means that true value is covered in the defence of our heart. Yes we know this and we cherish our values but one thing comes to mind: how good and lasting is our value? This question is important in deciding what qualifies our sacred place and invariably, what we live for. A diamond syrup does not endure like a diamond stone. A child, because of immaturity, would ordinarily open its heart for the pleasure of a sweet diamond at the cost of a diamond stone. Understanding is therefore a foundation for the choice of life. Concisely, life is relative to understanding.
    How do we hope to feel safe and secure when the object our value is a seed of vanity and corruption? As it is often said: one bad apple spoil the whole basket. Is our soul not also infested by diseased values? Let us be mindful of what options we take, so that what we thought should give us aids (help) will not become an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) consequent of immaturity.
    I advice here that we all should take the option of an everlasting value, even eternal life. That way, we can free our minds and consciousness from the daily torment of fear that comes with temporal and perishable values. Unhappiness is being at home with nothing. One of the greatest icons of time, in all his wisdom and wealth, concluded saying: Vanity upon vanity; all is vanity. Let us therefore welcome and accommodate the forever living product of God, even the Word of God, in our life. It is the beauty of holiness and a life of lasting happiness. Whatever give us the reason to live is love because it lives in our sacred space. However, in order to avoid the pains of disappointed expectations and heart ache, we should not surrender our soul to live and labor for an infested world, except for the measure that is allowed to us because we are part of the world by our little member (flesh and blood) who needs to be sustained to serve our missionary need during our temporal mission in time.

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    • Ah! don’t know where to start – but very well said and expressed. I particularly agree with you that in order to avoid the pains of disappointed expectations and heart ache, we should not surrender our soul to live and labor for an infested world, except… ‘well, honestly – but really who can tell tomorrow’s vision about turbulence? or be accurate about things that has to do with how we feel or allow people to interfere with our “sacred space”. Not everyone and everything we allow into our space will “crush” us – but some will, and eventually we will bounce back, recover and move forward. But the lesson here should be directed towards how we make the best use of it. Because I’ve been hurt or dumped, does not mean that I will not love again – its just an approach of awareness to let in a divine intervention, heal, inspire others and move on. If it is sore today, it get better tomorrow, and healed for the future.

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  3. Wow! This is a delightfully deep exposition and searchlight of mind and thought. It is refreshing at the same time, thought engaging. Yinka, for these rich and rare words, I esteem you as a precious gift.

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  4. For Christian is either you allow fear if your mind is empty with the WORD MEANS JESUS MEANS GOD IN YOUR MIND AND THINKING AND WE MUST BELIEVE TO LIVE. READ YOR AND MEDITATE AND ACT ON THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR MIND EVERY DAY EVERY SECOND. THEN THE BATTLE IS OVER AMEN

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  5. Wow! This is really a phenomenal write up but more importantly very TRUE.- I find myself always wanting to check my phone even while driving. God help me! Huh!

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    • GOD HELP ME TOO ESPECIALLY WITH PRESUMPTIOUS SIN SUSPECTING PEOPLE WITHOUT PRAYER AND FAITH.AMEN IAM A LIVING WITNESS AND DO NOT LOOK FO MAGIC LOOK FOR AND ACCEPT YOUR MIRACLE JUST NOW AMEN

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      • Very true sir, again – all we really need to do is focus on God’s plan for our lives and keep our minds occupied within his wish.

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    • Ah! also guilty here, lol. New therapy lesson learnt – I turn all off and focus on one thing at a time – less confusion or panic attack. Thanks Goke.

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    • FOR WE CHRISTIAN REJECT ALL DISTRACTION WE ARE LOKKING UP UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. JESUS IS COMING BACK AGAIN ADDRESS ME/YOU/US ENIMIES OF OUR FAITH? THE LUST OF THE FLESH EYE AND PRIDE. HUMAN BEING IS NOT MY ENEMY YOU DO NOT NEED ANY SO CALL PRAYER CONTRACTORS I AM A PROPHET BECAUSE I BELIEVE JESUS IS COMIG AGAIN THERE TWO UNDOUBTABLE THROUGH I CAN NEVER DIE, I AM RAPTURABLE IF I DIE BEFOR HE COMES IT IS MY ADRRES THAT WILL TEMPORARILY CHANGE. IS I EITHER IAM HERE BECAUSE HE WANT ME TO BE HERE AND NO PERSON CAN KILL ME EXCEPT GOD WHO WILL NOT KILL ME BUT WILL TAKE ME TO A PLACE TAT JESUS PREPARED FOR ME PLEASE REJECT DISTRACTION AND DO NOT EXCEPT YOU DO NOT HAVE FAITH. BE CAREFUL WITH FALSE PROPHECY MY ENEMIES ARE THE SATA, LUST OF THE FLESH, LUST THE EYES WHICH CAN DISTARCT DISTRACT MY ATTENTION TO GOD. READ YOUR BIBLE AND PRAY EVERYDAY AMEN. PRAY FOR YOUR SO CALL ENEMY. IF YOU DO IT THEN PRAISE GOD EVERY MINUTE. AMEN

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