In every spiritual journey, there is a temptation to search for a destination—a place where everything becomes clear, where peace is finally attained, and where all struggles cease. We imagine that if we keep going, if we just get there, we will finally arrive.
But the deeper truth—the one that saints, mystics, and seekers across the ages have discovered—is this:
There is no ‘there’—only a deepening of ‘here.’
The kingdom we search for, the peace we long for, and the presence of God we crave are not waiting beyond some distant horizon. They are found within this moment, beneath the layers of noise, fear, and striving. The path is not about arriving somewhere new; it is about awakening more fully to where we already are.
This understanding lies at the heart of Celtic Christianity, which teaches us that the sacred is not somewhere far off—it is woven into the fabric of this world, waiting to be seen, felt, and lived.
The Illusion of ‘There’ and the Call to ‘Here’
Jesus addressed this very misconception when He said:
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” — Luke 17:20-21 (KJV)
The Pharisees were waiting for a grand arrival—a visible kingdom marked by power and spectacle. But Jesus shattered their expectations, revealing that the kingdom was not external but internal, not a place but a presence, and not a future event but a present reality.
In the same way, many of us live as though spiritual fulfillment is something to be achieved:
- When life becomes easier…
- When I understand my purpose…
- When I finally hear from God clearly…
But Jesus’ words remind us: The treasure is already here, within.
The Wisdom of the Celtic Saints: God in the Ordinary
The Celtic Christian tradition echoes this truth. It teaches that there is no separation between the sacred and the ordinary—only our perception.
- St. Brigid of Kildare found holiness not only in the chapel but also at the hearth, seeing the kitchen table as an altar and hospitality as a form of worship.
- St. Columba of Iona discovered the presence of God in the rhythm of the tides and the wind over the sea, reminding his monks that the whole earth is a thin place.
- St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne prayed not only in his cell but while walking the shores, finding the waves and seabirds to be as much a congregation as any human gathering.
For them, the journey was not about escaping the world but about deepening into it—seeing God in it rather than beyond it.
They knew: There is no ‘there’—only a deeper ‘here.’
Why We Keep Chasing ‘There’
The search for ‘there’—for some future moment of enlightenment or peace—is deeply human. But often, it is a form of avoidance.
- We search for ‘there’ to escape the discomfort of ‘here.’ The present moment can feel messy—full of unanswered questions, tensions, and shadows we’d rather ignore.
- We imagine ‘there’ will fix us. We believe that when we arrive, we’ll finally be whole, finally worthy.
- We confuse motion with transformation. We think that if we keep moving—reading more, seeking more, achieving more—we must be growing.
But as Jesus taught, and as the Celtic saints knew:
- The path is within, not ahead.
- The work is presence, not progress.
- The growth is depth, not distance.
Deepening the ‘Here’: Lessons from Scripture and the Saints
So how do we live this truth? How do we stop striving for a distant ‘there’ and instead root ourselves deeply in the ‘here’?
1. Behold the Kingdom in the Ordinary
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things.” — Psalm 119:18
The Celts had a saying: “Heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in thin places, that distance collapses.”
But thin places are not always geographic—they are perceptual.
- The sunrise through your window can be a cathedral if your heart is awake.
- The laughter of a friend can be a psalm if your soul is listening.
- The silence after prayer can be a communion if your spirit is still.
The kingdom is here—if we will only see it.
Practice: Try a simple prayer each morning:
“Lord, let me see You in what is already before me.”
2. Trust That What You Seek Is Already Within You
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” — Colossians 1:27
So many of us live as though we are separate from God—as if He is distant, and we are waiting to be drawn near. But the truth, spoken by Jesus and echoed by Paul, is that God is already within you.
You do not need to search for the Divine as if He were elsewhere. You need only to sink into the presence that already abides in you.
The Celtic monks practiced a form of contemplative prayer that wasn’t about reaching God but about returning to the God already there. They called this anam ċara—soul friendship, a relationship of deep, abiding presence.
Practice:
In moments of anxiety, place your hand on your chest and whisper:
“Christ in me. I am already home.”
3. Release the Illusion of Arrival
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” — Isaiah 43:18-19
One of the greatest traps on the spiritual path is the belief that someday, we will arrive. But as anyone who has walked this path knows—there is no final arrival, only unfolding.
The Celtic pilgrimage, or peregrinatio, was a journey without a destination. The monks would set out not knowing where they would land, trusting that the journey itself was the sacred space.
The spiritual life is not a ladder to climb; it is a circle to inhabit—a constant return to the same truths, but at a deeper level.
Practice:
The next time you catch yourself thinking “I’ll be at peace when…”—pause and say:
“I am already on sacred ground.”
4. Enter the Silence: Here is Where God Speaks
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
In our search for God, we often fill our time with noise—reading, listening, searching. But God is found in the gaps, the pauses, the silences.
The Celtic saints understood that the heart must become a thin place, where heaven and earth meet within.
Stillness is not doing nothing; it is allowing everything—it is the space where the depth of ‘here’ opens up.
Practice:
Spend 5 minutes a day in silence. Not in prayer. Not in study. Just in presence.
The Gift of Deepening ‘Here’
So many people live their entire lives chasing a horizon they will never reach. But those who learn to sink into the here discover something miraculous:
🌿 The ‘there’ they sought was always present—within, around, and through them.
🌿 The peace they longed for was hidden not in distance, but in depth.
🌿 The transformation they desired was never in the destination—it was in the seeing.
This is the heart of the spiritual path:
There is no ‘there’—only a deepening of ‘here.’
A Blessing for Your Journey
May you awaken to the sacred ground beneath your feet,
May your eyes see the kingdom already within,
May you stop chasing what was never missing,
And may you find, in the depths of ‘here,’
The Presence you have always sought.
Reflection:
💬 Have you ever experienced a moment when you realized you were already where you needed to be?
💬 What practices help you stop chasing and start dwelling?
Share your thoughts and let’s journey together. 🌿✨
Ancient Whispers 
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