Spiritual Exercise for June: Sanctuary

Choose a place you can visit easily, every day. Maybe it is your backyard; maybe it is a spot by the Charles River, or a bench along the bike path. Maybe it is the Follen sanctuary. Maybe it is your very own bed. Go to this place every day — for a week, or hey, try the whole month! — and, with intention and mindfulness, spend a few moments in a quiet gratitude prayer or meditation. Notice everything around you: the sensations on your body, the thoughts that pass through your mind, the things and beings your eyes can see. Seek a moment of peace, quiet, and sanctuary in the midst of every day. How does this feel? Can this ordinary spot become a sanctuary for you? What does sanctuary mean to you after a week or so of this practice?