Today I went to pray in the ruins of a church building perched on a mountain side with a sweeping view of the Mediterranean. Fallen into disuse its now empty and where windows and doors once were only gaping holes with eroding concrete edges remain. Its walls once reverberating with the sounds of worship are covered with the artistic overflow of the souls who now come to this place for much different purposes.

Some have expressed themselves by carving their names into the wall or writing on it with the charcoal of fires long since extinguished. Perhaps it’s a subtle way for them to “leave their mark on the world” gleaning a sense of immortality. Perhaps they are lost in the wastes of nihilism signing with poignant irreverence this their manifesto on the emptiness of religion.

Some, engaged in the meditative act of more artistic expression, have draw more complex imagery. Amongst the many illegible names scrawled all over the walls their work stands out. In particular one image, a symbol of meditation, attracts my gaze. This artist is making a statement in stark contrast to the beliefs of those who built this house of worship. This symbol in its beauty reflects the unspoken assertion of its creator that emptying and abandonment of such structures of worship leads to a beautiful inner peace.

Later outside I find an empty 9 mm bullet casing weathered to a dull brown laying on the ground. The ground around it is strewn with shards of glass. This tool of death must have been used to shatter some of the many bottles of alcohol emptied by its possessor. Theirs is a different kind of expression and they have chosen a different medium in which to work. These speak of violence and wild abandon.

All these people pouring out their hearts seem to be seeking something. Some desiring a kind of humanistic immortality, another peace through emptying themselves of desire, and yet another perhaps seeking peace by venting the wild rage of their insatiable desires. Yet the canvas of this concrete structure on which they’ve chosen to express themselves unwaveringly expresses the overflow of another’s heart…

As I move into prayer I find myself singing a song. “Sing hallelujah to Christ (x3)… Christ is lord of heaven and earth (x3).” In that moment I am struck by the contrast of my actions with those of the others who’ve visited this place. I like so many who’ve come to this place pour out the contents of my heart. Yet I do so not as an act of self discovery but believing that with my declarations the Holy Spirit applies to my heart and mind a growing measure of understanding of the one so completely other than myself that I could not otherwise know him. I sing to the author of this world, I profess His revelations of Himself to Him and am changed. My praises mar nothing around me except the silence, but leave me forever changed. When I leave, this place will stand once more abandoned, but the truth it attests to cannot be emptied from it. He remains the same. Much like the grave of Christ this building even empty and now abandoned silently attests to the purpose that gave it form and its emptiness does not diminish the one it was made for or the story that it tells. Rather it becomes yet another revelation of Christs glorious nature and speaks of the unshakable hope of those who are found in Him.

Another song rises within me… “ All who are thirsty. All who are weak. Come to the fountain, dip your heart in the streams of life. Let the pain and the sorrow be washed away. In the streams of His mercy. As deep cries out to deep… There in that place as I worship in Truth pouring out my heart for God, I also begin to see and recognise the overflow of Christs heart. Much like the weathered structure overhead, He overshadows in hopeful silence all who visit this place. Forbearing and waiting for them to lift up their eyes and see. He knows the deepest longing of their hearts. Even before they pour out their offerings to other idols upon His alter, He is lovingly waiting, longing to fill them with the bread of heaven and the water of life. Yet in their blindness they prefer emptiness and unquenchable thirst. He is familiar with this pain though and does not desire it for them. He gave His all so that He could deliver them from it. So He continues to wait. Still desiring that all should come to a saving knowledge of Himself. He waits sorrowing over their suffering, and ever working for their salvation. Let us join His hearts cry and seek to make it our own.

Let Us Pray..

Lord there are so many empty churches in this Island. Some have sinned against you, abandoning your ways and letting your words of life grow cold and fall from their hearts. They see this as no fault of their own and arrogantly make assertions of their own superiority or the superiority of that they now “know”. Forgive and open blind eyes!

Others have suffered violence, being forcibly removed from their lamp stand, the world they once inhabited fills with darkness. Together we pray for their persecutors with the words of your son for his.“Forgive them lord for they know not what they do!”

Thank you that much like the empty buildings your beloved once inhabited, you wait, for your children to look up and return to you. You lovingly wait desiring to see the flames of your Holy Spirt ignite the souls of your children and illuminate the land once again with the light of your Truth. We who are your bride join with they cry of your heart saying may it be so Lord.

Come Holy Spirt, Come to the land of Cyprus! Ignite the hearts of God’s children. Illuminate the darkness and fill the empty places. Come lord Jesus, Come! We who long for your coming wait with you for your fullness of time. Let it be soon lord we long for you! Teach us to be patient with your forbearance while lovingly seeking your glory in the lives of our neighbours everyday until your return. In Jesus name Amen.