I step down into the brisk current of the river, wondering if I will be able to stay upright while the rushing water tries to push me downstream. I’m a year older than last season, and walking on snot-covered bowling balls against the chilling current of spring runoff is not a job for amateurs or old men. Fortunately, my dog and I make it across the river without incident. I shuffle ahead and begin casting flies upstream in pursuit of the wild brown trout that inhabits the river.

For centuries, stained glass windows have been synonymous with sacred places. They are ornate creations of color and light. Stained glass windows are created by craftsmen for cathedrals and chapels to transform sunlight into a “divine light,” inspiring reverence and worship, contemplation and compassion. 

A frozen lake is a sacred place. Evergreen Lake was created with the construction of the Evergreen Dam between 1925 and 1927. Originally created to provide the utilitarian role of a water source for the town residents and fire protection, it now serves as a symbol of the heart of the community. The 40-acre lake is encircled by picturesque mountain views that shift hues throughout each season of the year. In winter, the frozen lake becomes a magical winter place of play as the largest Zamboni-groomed outdoor ice-skating rink in North America. 

Hammond's Candies is a sacred place. There are few things on earth that can craft a sweet smile like old-time candy, and for over a century, Hammond’s Candies has been a cherished part of holiday celebrations, stretching smiles from ear-to-ear on the young and old. From peppermint candy canes on Christmas trees to giant lollipops on a summer afternoon, their confections evoke sweet memories of festive gatherings and family traditions. 

When I think of someone who embodies this rhythm of tending, both to land and to life, I think of Helen Skiba, the renowned Colorado flower farmer behind Artemis Flower Farm. The flowers at Artemis Flower Farm are unparalleled…dainty, boasting, and colorful. Recently I took the drive to visit Helen at her farm outside Longmont. While I was technically there to pick up a dahlia tuber order (she has the best around), we both knew the real reason was to meet her almost eight-month-old baby girl. We wandered through the farm and into her cozy home tucked right on the property, where her daughter waited…another tender life being lovingly grown alongside the flowers.

A sledding hill is a sacred place. It is a place of winter play where children and adults alike experience the thrill of speeding down a snowy surface. Many winter sports can be exclusive based on finances, but a sledding hill is an inclusive gathering. A sledding hill is an open invitation to anyone willing to risk.

An observatory is a sacred place. The night sky when viewed through a powerful telescope is an invitation to witness the mystery and majesty of the cosmos. The vastness of the universe provides a different perspective to the scale of our cities and civilizations. When we look at the stars, we realize how shared our worlds are.

The toy store is a sacred place. It is a place that fosters curiosity and wonder, while simultaneously inviting us to a playful connection with our neighbors and neighborhood.

 A toy store stocks its shelves not only with dolls, games, craft kits, and racecars, but also with an unspoken element of magic. What may appear to be a simple toy can open portals to other worlds in the imagination. In the act of play, there are gentle invitations to take risks, try new things, imagine possibilities, and perhaps discover a spark that grows into a lifelong love.

The small mountain mining town of Georgetown, Colorado, transforms into a winter wonderland for its annual Christmas Market. Georgetown during December feels like walking into a snow globe—Victorian buildings lined with twinkling lights, dusted with a soft layer of snow, and streets filled with the rich scent of roasting chestnuts. The Christmas Market isn’t just a festive event; it’s a gathering where the warmth of community and the spirit of tradition merge to create something magical.

The winery invites another pace. A unified place, where heaven touches earth, where the sacred can be savored in every sip. The Psalmist writes that God “brings forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the human heart” (Psalm 104:14-15). A winery is a material sign of God’s benevolence, softening the hard places and reminding us we are all part of a greater story; one of restoration, community, and grace. The winery is a sacred place.

An airport is a sacred place. Airports serve as the crossroads of the modern era, moving people across the country and around the world. Serving more than points of departure and arrival, they are engines of economic development.

Sacred Heart Retreat House is a peaceful place to be silent and still. It is a place to go away and learn to listen. It is a place set apart from the pace and pressure of everyday life. Sacred Heart is a sacred place.

Orchards lead us in a liturgy of presence. They beckon us to be fully awake to the seasons of life, to savor the fruits of our labor, to deepen our roots in times of stress, and to rest in God's grace. The orchard is a sacred place.

State Parks exist because of the commitment of citizens of Colorado over 60 years ago to preserve places where all people can experience our state’s natural beauty and be inspired to protect it for the future. State Parks belong to the people and the place. The State Park is a sacred place.

Most museums preserve the past. The best museums inspire the possibility of living wholeheartedly in the future. The museum is a sacred place.

Little Man Ice Cream is sweet reminder how a business can create good for both people and place. It is an ice cream shop that cultivates wonder and extends welcome for everyone. The ice cream shop is a sacred place.

A walk, run, or ride on a trail is an opportunity to travel through the city at a different pace. The trail is manmade and mediated interaction with creation, but it offers an experiential reminder of the natural landscape and wildlife that have existed long before us in the place we call home. The trail is an invitation to realign our perspective and pace. The trail is a sacred place.

The garden center provides a place to reengage the earth, cultivate life, and live in a closer relationship to creation. It is a place where we are reminded of our first vocation as gardeners, grateful for the goodness that grows around us. The garden center is a sacred place.