God is Everywhere [Personal Narrative]
"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man." Acts 17:24
For those who believe in God's omnipresence, travel can be seen as an opportunity to experience God's presence in different places and cultures. Yet, some of life’s great mysteries of love and faith and God and truth can be best expressed and experienced through religious architecture.
In short theological terms, the concept of "God is everywhere" refers to the attribute of omnipresence, meaning God's presence extends to all places and times simultaneously, encompassing the entire universe. In Christianity, this doctrine is central, suggesting that God is not limited by space or time, but is present everywhere at once. Judaism also emphasizes the concept of God's omnipresence, with some interpretations suggesting that God's glory fills the entire earth. In Hinduism, the concept of Brahman, the ultimate reality, is often described as being everywhere and in everything. In my own realm of life, it is comforting to know that in flight, traveling abroad or just living a day to day routine, a higher being is accessible.
But architecture can give shape and structure and a visual reference to God’s message and God’s existance as well as your own experience in mysticism. My personal travel experience typically starts with a visit to a church, small or large, center to town or city square. Sometimes, if lucky, I will catch a service, if only to follow along in a different and unrecognized language. (Side note: I studied Latin in high school and college so a Catholic priest’s moment of saying, “Corpus Domini Nostri Iesu Christi custodiat animam tuam in vitam aeternam" ("May the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto life everlasting") is more discernible, oddly.)
It can be noted that in pre-literate countries in the Americas and Europe, some of my favorite churches like Havana Cathedral (Cuba), Metropolitan Cathedral (Mexico City, Mexico), Notre-Dame (Paris, France), Herz-Jesu-Kirche (Bregenz, Austria) — all are examples that relied heavily on visual and auditory elements to communicate religious messages, including elaborate mosaics, marble sculptures, stained glass windows, and dramatic center aisled processions. Instead of relying on written texts, churches used colorful mosaics and frescoes to depict biblical stories and religious figures, making the narratives accessible to everyone. Translucent stained glass windows told stories through color and light, creating a powerful and immersive experience. Relief sculptures and statues of saints and biblical figures were placed throughout the church, serving as visual reminders of religious teachings. Churches were often built on a grand scale, with high ceilings and ornate decorations, reflecting the power and importance of the church. Symbolic Designs and architectural features, such as arches, domes, and crosses, were designed to convey religious symbolism. Bell towers were used to announce important events and times for prayer, serving as a constant reminder of the church's presence.
In my childhood, there was a discipline and routine of worship instrumented by my mother and supported by my father: church every Sunday morning no matter what. My mother would wake early to meticulously iron our Sunny dresses with large white collards, detailed with initials and lined with hand made lace. Then, while Billy Graham played on a VH tape on the bedroom TV, she would gradually move on to also press our knee socks and spruce up our white Mary Jane shoes, “the button shining as bright as Jesus,” one fellow church lady once proclaimed. It was the ceremony, ritual and routine of going to church, as a family, only a block from our home that has resonated through the years. Routine set a foundation, a church building created an anchor, and knowledge of God created something portable to be expressed and experienced — anywhere, any time.
“God knows how to be wholly everywhere without being confined to any place. In contrast to material objects, which, having parts in various parts of the space they occupy, are not wholly present at any of those regions, God is wholly present wherever he is. Where is God? God is Everywhere.” Augustine, Letter 137
In this large tapestry of life, whether I am driving around at home in Charleston to run an errand or abroad, dwarfed in a stone and marble Cathedral, I know there is a guiding light and that God is Everywhere. But experiencing a church while traveling is always a deeply enriching cultural and spiritual journey, offering a unique glimpse into history, architecture, and religious practices that can only be fully experienced through attending a service, exploring the intricate details, and allowing yourself to be moved by the music and atmosphere.
