God and I have several special places we like to be together, but it was clear I wasn’t going to be experiencing any of them that particular morning. The house was bursting with grandchildren. Translated that means scant private time with God on the dock, little rocking chair solitude on the patio, and precious few moments with Jesus on the back porch.

I missed Him.

I told Him so as I stood at the sink washing dishes. And almost immediately I thought of something I’d been studying. Obsessing over would be more accurate. It’s what I do when something in God’s word grabs me and won’t let go. I’m like a dog with a bone and right now, one of my favorite treats is the concept of Sanctuary. The topic’s bigger than I know what to do with but I’m having fun feasting on the truth that as a believer, I am God’s sanctuary on earth. I am His dwelling place.

No, it’s not a new doctrine but it’s infinitely bigger than I’ve ever imagined. I’m thinking it may account for that trace of holy desperation I hear in the passionate words of the Apostle Paul as he implored the early Christians to grasp the enormity of their new life in Christ. “Do you not know,” Paul said, “that your body is the temple of God?” Again, our body as His sanctuary isn’t a new idea, but here’s what I find novel about it right now, (and staggering). God is challenging me to live bringing other people into this precious sanctuary of ours by consciously beholding Him while I’m visiting with them.

Somehow in ways I don’t fully understand, while I’m privately beholding Jesus in the secret dwelling place, His spirit is wooing those around me whether I’m asking the men about their morning hunt, cooking dinner with the girls, or playing memory game with the grands.

There is no substitute for consistently drawing aside to be alone with God. It should be our goal in every season of life. And yet, the things and people God has given into our hands aren’t meant to keep us from Him and we don’t have to choose between starving our souls for lack of time with God or spending time with the grands. Come on, Rockstars! Let’s bring those around us into our sanctuary by consciously beholding Him while we doctor that skinned knee, rock that baby, chauffeur that preteen, or cheer that Little Leaguer! Sanctuary living is a win/win for everyone.