Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1547005
98 maconmagazine.com | October/November 2026 C U P S A N D W A T E R The visual mystique of sacred spaces STORY AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ERIN ROBINSON HALL The "Eye of God" stained glass at Temple Beth Israel. I f you were to close your eyes and picture a sacred place, what would come to your mind? Would you picture an altar table or walls of ornate stained-glass windows? Would you envision a kneeling bench or cushioned pews? Would you picture an outdoor trail that leads to a clearing in the woods or a circle of chairs for people to gather around a fi re? Religious traditions attempt to form our faithful imaginations by designing sacred spaces. Places where there is space for sacraments to happen in ways that inspire us. The artistry of sacred architecture attempts that kind of inspiration. Artisans develop features in religious buildings to off er a way to invite a sense of awe and wonder. Giving tactile expression to spiritual matters is no easy task, which is why you see Biblical stories in stained glass, ornate golden scrolls, and beautiful symbols of faith when you walk in a temple or church. For me, simply walking inside the sanctuary of St. Joseph's Catholic Church is an experience of beauty that inspires reverence. Artists off er a visual sacrament. Catholic scholar Fulton Sheen once explained that a sacrament "combines two elements: one visible, the other invisible," Sheen said. "A sacrament, therefore, broadly understood is something physical that makes present some invisible spiritual reality." At Temple Beth Israel, the dome reminds the congregation that God is present. Looking up at the intricate colors in the ceiling, the "Eye of God" stained- glass reminds people of God's protection and guidance. The "eye" inspires the congregation that they encounter God in the moments within the walls of the Temple and that God's seeing eye has a vision for them throughout their lives. community impact. When congregations move together, they don't simply increase participation — they strengthen the relationships that sustain communities long a er a single campaign or event has ended." I am eager to see what purposeful effort can grow from leaders who are willing to show up, listen, and share leadership among other people, even those with whom