Sanctuary

Recently we spent a weekend with friends at an elephant sanctuary, a place of safety and rehabilitation specifically for animals that have been orphaned by hunters, removed from the herd because of erratic behaviour or rescued from circumstances of abuse.

Like humans, elephants are family oriented and removal from the herd is very traumatic.

The sanctuary aims first to create new families of these large, gentle animals and then after a few years to reintroduce them to their natural environment. This slow and laborious process requires much patience.

This visit to the elephant sanctuary made me wonder anew about the true meaning of ‘sanctuary’.

We often use this word to refer to a physical location, but I think there is a spiritual meaning as well.

Churches as sanctuaries can create a new family, constantly drawing in and nurturing new members.

But too often our sanctuaries are merely sanitised places where we can feel comfortable every Sunday for an hour or so.

We can transform our churches into true sanctuaries by welcoming orphaned, abused and marginalised people into places of safety and nurture.

Prayer: Dear God, help us to work together to create places of accept­ance and love for all of your children. Amen