When we hear the term holy places we tend to think of Cathedrals in cities and shrines in the countryside.

And there is no doubt about it, these ideas worked well in the past. Where for example in medieval times, the biggest man made objects ordinary folk would ever enter were abbeys, minsters and churches. Today we are less in awe of big buildings such as the gerkin or shard in London. Indeed, one of Dundees tallest buildings is in the process of being unceremoniously dismantle. Yet more than ever holy places are all around. Take our own beach here in Broughty ferry on a clear autumns evening. What about the loch side or hill top in high summer. In fact, what about one of those great moments of hard won triumph we witnessed in the Olympics. And in all honesty will we not feel emotional over some of the scenes of success in the para-olympics. And the reason I cite all these as holy places is that each does very specific things to us. Firstly, they take us out of our humdrum everyday selves and connect us with something undefinably deeper. Next, they whisper in our ears there is more to life than the material and superficial - there is - way down meaning. And if we respond to the call of that holy place - we for instant get the sense of what could be better - a better outlook - a better life - a better world. Did you know that holy places can also be found in print? If you dont believe me reread those lines from Psalm 84. For they shouldnt be taken as a literal paradise that we will be able to create here on earth tomorrow. Their description certainly isnt some estate agents blurb we are presenting to God for heavens specification. No - instead these lines project a vision to kick start our visions. The psalms words inspire us to ask what would the world I would yearn to live in look like. And as such, the psalm itself is a holy place. A bit like this piece written with only only a smidgen of tongue

in cheek: I think that I shall never see A Church thats all it ought to be; A Church that has no empty pews, Whose Minister never has the blues; A Church whose elders always seek And none is proud but all are meek; Where gossips never peddle lies Or make complaints or criticise; Where all are always sweet and kind And all to others faults are blind. Such perfect churches there may be, But none of them are known to me. But still well work, and pray and plan To make our Church the best we can! The key line in that little ditty is obviously the last. For Psalm 84 makes quite clear that the beautiful holy place of God does not come fully upon us unless we really want it - really yearn for it - really thirst for it with every fibre of our being. Put directly, if we want anything to come of our encounters with holy places then we must obey simple rules. We must be open to the place with absolutely no preconditions. After all if we are willing to be door commissionaires rather high heed yins like the psalmist suggest- then we need some humility about being being invited in in the first place. Once through the threshold it would be outright rude to start trying to shape the experience for ourselves. Instead, we need to submit utterly to the greater power we are sensing. Finally, when honoured with the divines call then we must give in to where we are being led. Since that is the way to the secret garden of the Lords courts. That is they way to our pilgrimages end. That is the way to the author of a visions and the giver of all meaning - Jesus Christ.

If you dont believe me listen at least to the disciples: This is what we read in John 6.66 From this time many of the disciples turned back and no longer followed him. You do not want to leave me too, do you - asked Jesus. Simon Peter answered - Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. There is a hoary old joke that have been doing the ecclesiastical rounds for years. You may have heard it already - its all about bats. Three of the local Minsters met for lunch one day and, as it does, the subject of church buildings came up. The local priest said that the chapel was having a problem with bats in the belfry, and they had tried ringing the bells to scare them away but that didnt seem to work. The Baptist Minister said that his church was also having trouble with bats nesting in their roof space. They tried to call in a specialist in the hope that they could have them removed safely, but were told that bats were now a protected species and they had to stay where they were until they decided to nest somewhere else. The Church of Scotland Minister said he also had bats in his spire, but they had all disappeared. How did you manage to get rid of them?

the others asked. Easy he said, I baptised all mine and made them members of the church... havent seen one back since! Well that whimsy it told to illustrate the falling away of so many from the church. But they key point - is why do those who start out with good even great expectation of their contribution to Gods holy place drop away. Probably there are many reasons. But one of them may be they never found the way to the holy place in the first place. By that I mean they never found deeper sense, they never discovered meaning and they were never inspired into the better church eternal. If that was the case, then that is indeed sad. In fact, we might get round to thinking about that in the weeks ahead. And we can start at no better a place than in our own holy place. Since in encountering Christ here - we do so not just for ourselves but for others. In being gifted meaning to ourselves then it must always be in the context of helping others to discover theirs. And in being lead toward a better place and time, we are encouraged not to travel alone. But instead to invite others into the cathedral of the everywhere there to stay for a very long time indeed! Why not therefore - just go and call a friend. Amen HYMN.....