Holy Ground

In his book, "Reaching Out", Henri Nouwen describes an intimate moment of silence shared with a friend.

He writes:

The silence which grew between us was warm, gentle and vibrant. Once in a while we looked at each other with the beginning of a smile pushing away the last remnants of fear and suspicion. It seemed that while the silence grew deeper around us we became more and more aware of a presence embracing both of us.

Then he said, "It is good to be here" and I said, "Yes, it is good to be together again," and after that we were silent again for a long period.

And as a deep peace filled the empty space between us he said hesitantly, "When I look at you, it is as if I am in the presence of Christ."

I did not feel startled, suprised or in need of protesting, but I could only say, "It is the Christ in you, who recognizes the Christ in me."

"Yes," he said, "He indeed is in our midst," and then he spoke the words which entered into my soul as the most healing words I had heard in many years, "From now on, wherever you go, or wherever I go, all the ground between us will be holy ground."

And when he left I knew that he had revealed to me what community really means.

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This, is perhaps the most beautifully written description of true community I have ever had the privilege to read.

Holy ground...the space that extends between those who have mirrored Christ in one another.

Mind blowing, tear provokingly beautiful!