Imagine sun-splattered plazas, vendors advertising their produce, the smell of freshly baked baguettes, the tinkling of coffee mugs on saucers, and the soothing rhythms of accordion music from the occasional street musician. These were just some of the sights and sounds I encountered daily in my little college town in southern France, where I spent a year studying abroad.

As dreamy as that sounds, the steady input on the senses could make it hard for a person to focus! Thus, I would often seek refuge in the local cathedral, whose doors welcomed visitors any time of day.

I loved walking in from the noisy hustle and bustle outside into the hushed quietness of that sanctuary. Sitting on an empty pew, my mind and thoughts would bathe in the silence as I talked to God. Talk to Him about my struggles of adapting to a new culture, my relationships with classmates, my life plans, my hopes and dreams. Those times of sweet communion with God are some of my fondest memories of France. They carried me through many challenging days.

One of my former fellow student missionaries in West Africa would often hike up the hill behind his house, find a spot beneath a shady shea tree, and there seek time with God. He told me of joyful times, hearing the LORD speak to his heart. That was his sanctuary.

A church-run thrift store sits alongside one of the busiest streets of Copenhagen, Denmark. At the back of that store sits a prayer table, where customers write and post prayer requests and engage in meaningful conversation with store employees. There is an atmosphere of peace and tranquility that draws people to that spot — for them, it is a sanctuary.

Wherever you may be, take some time to find a quiet place, a shelter from the constant press and strain of life’s demands. “Come away by yourselves…and rest a while.” Mark 6:31

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