Featured Books

Putting on the Mind of Christ: The Inner Work of Christian Spirituality

Garden Retreats: A Build-It-Yourself Guide

Spiritual Parenting

Often, there is a need for something more than group attendance at a worship service. We need time to pray, meditate, study and reflect. Although this is often done in the quiet of a private study or bedroom, to set aside a small area specifically for this purpose doesn't require much space-and adds a dimension to the activity that makes it somehow much more real and effective. It can strengthen spirituality in everyday activities that much more. It is a place you can go to in your mind when you're away from home as well, allowing you to imagine being in your private corner when you are away from home. I'd often wished for a little area in a garden, or a chapel next door to my home, where I could go to pray and worship on my own. As the world becomes more crowded and hectic, such places are all too rare. Then it dawned on me-in my little 600 square foot apartment, there is an alcove of unused space between the bedroom closet and the wall. It seemed perfect for storage or a photo backdrop. But wait! By separating this small area from the rest of the room with a small piece of trellis, and a few artificial vines woven through, here was my private chapel! It measures just 3 1/2 by 4 feet, a small enough space to fit in any room separated by a room screen or something similar. The next question was, how to outfit it? I looked at the items I had on hand, and decided to use a rolling file cabinet that seemed just the right height to hold a book when I am kneeling. This became an altar of sorts, a place to put a couple of candles for ambiance and a book of scriptures. As a comfortable kneeler I used a small, soft travel pillow. The cabinet is covered with my grandmother's embroidered table cloth-a new use for an heirloom that has seldom been seen on the dining room table. The lower shelf of the cabinet holds extra candles and a concordance. I plan to add a comfortable chair eventually, for longer study sessions, but for now this is very adequate. On the wall are some pictures and plaques with appropriate theme. I even added a small stereo CD player for background music. Suddenly, here is a real private chapel with all the amenities for prayer, study, worship and meditation. I feel much more complete.