In her second memoir, Bittersweet, Shauna Niequist describes a phenomenon she calls “thin places.” Thin places are moments or spaces when the membrane that separates the earthly from the divine is especially thin, or transparent, or porous. God breaks through, and you get a pure taste or glimpse of heaven right in the midst of everyday life. It's the “kingdom come,” the “something more” - technically if we are really in tune with the Spirit we are supposed to feel this way all the time, but for most of us, it's not an everyday thing. Of course, thinking in terms of thin places does help you keep an eye out for them, maybe catch a few you might otherwise have missed...
So, thinking back over my last year in Chicago, here are a few of the thin places I remember:
- In the pool, fully clothed, at Meg and Tyler's wedding. I remember hearing thunder and thinking I couldn't care less if I were struck by lightning and killed at that moment. I was surrounded by my favorite people in the world, singing and dancing and full of joy.
- The Point, in Hyde Park. Last fall, I met God there while my roommates were at choir practice, and a few weeks ago, I rode my bike down and met Him again. It's beautiful!
- Some amazing one-on-one conversations with wonderful people...
- Pillow talk with Nicole in Switzerland.
- Sushi and grapefruit juice and chocolate with Harts in the park.
- Catching up with A at our condo.
- Moments of tragedy and fear that brought people together, forced us to trust...
- Kitty's diagnosis, sudden surgery, each tiny miracle.
- Watching the marriage of two beloved friends dissolve.
- Hearing that an old friend's younger sister took her own life.
- Looking into the faces of babies and brides.
- Standing on the “L” platform, feeling the air change from summer to fall. Last year I was standing at Fullerton, this year at Wellington. Closed my eyes, felt the crisp breeze, and smelled the changing of the seasons.
