The Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins observed, “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.”

Hopkins believed that God’s presence saturates the ordinary day-to-day world. If we have eyes to see and hearts to perceive, every sunrise, every act of kindness, every note of beautiful music, and every expression of genuine love can become a window through which we glimpse the sacred and the holy.

Perhaps that is why God so often chose ordinary places to reveal His extraordinary presence.

Moses was tending sheep when he encountered the burning bush. Jacob was sleeping on a stone when he dreamed of a ladder reaching into heaven. The disciples were mending nets, walking dusty roads, sharing meals, and sailing across the Sea of Galilee when they discovered that they were standing in the presence of the Son of God.

The sacred has always had a way of surprising us. Scripture tells us that when Moses approached the burning bush, God said, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5)

Notice that the ground itself was not inherently holy. God’s presence made it holy.

The same is true today. Sometimes the holiest moments are not experienced in a sanctuary or viewed through the prism of stained glass. There are occasions when seemingly ordinary moments become sacred—a sunrise bursting over the horizon, a conversation with a friend, the breaking of bread, listening to music, telling a story, rekindling a cherished memory, or serving someone in need. In those moments, we sense the Divine Presence and become aware, if only for a fleeting instant, that we are standing on holy ground.

I tend to call that sacred space “Holy Terra Firma.”

I was in seminary when I first heard of Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century Carmelite monk who spent much of his life working in the monastery kitchen. Washing pots and preparing meals hardly seemed like sacred work, yet he discovered profound communion with God amid the clatter of dishes and the routine of daily chores. His classic work, The Practice of the Presence of God, reminds us that God’s presence is not confined to cathedrals. The kitchen can become a sanctuary when our hearts and minds are attentive.

The beloved poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning expressed a similar truth: “Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees takes off his shoes.”

Her imagery intentionally echoes Moses before the burning bush. The world is filled with holy moments, but too often we hurry past them without noticing.

Music has long helped us recognize these sacred encounters. Some of our most beloved hymns and songs remind us that holy ground is not merely a geographical location but a spiritual experience. Bill and Gloria Gaither’s beloved song “Holy Ground” declares, “We are standing on holy ground.” Likewise, “Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place” by Lanny Wolfe has encouraged worshipers for generations to recognize God’s nearness. Even traditional hymns such as “Be Still, My Soul,” “Near to the Heart of God,” and “Open My Eyes, That I May See” invite us to become more aware of God’s presence in the ordinary rhythms of life.

Perhaps that is why certain songs move us so deeply. They awaken our awareness that heaven often touches earth in the most unexpected places.

Jesus certainly understood this. He transformed ordinary meals into sacred fellowship. He turned common fishing boats into floating classrooms. He made dusty roads into places of discipleship. He changed a rugged cross into the doorway of redemption and an empty tomb into the birthplace of hope.

Everywhere Jesus went, ordinary places became extraordinary because He was present.

The same invitation remains before us. The challenge is not that God has stopped speaking. The challenge is that we have become distracted by the clammoring noise around us. Our calendars are full. Our phones constantly demand our attention. Our schedules seldom allow us to linger long enough to notice the sacred that quietly surrounds us.

The psalmist offers to us a timeless invitation: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Stillness creates space for wonder. Wonder awakens gratitude. And gratitude opens our eyes to God’s presence.

I’ve heard quite a few motivational speakers and inspirational preachers say, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Many of those breathtaking moments are, in reality, holy moments.

Today, slow down. Watch the sunrise. Listen carefully to a child’s laughter. Share an unhurried meal with someone you love. Visit a friend. Offer encouragement to someone who is weary. Serve a neighbor in need. Pause long enough to hear the music that stirs your soul.

You may discover that what appeared to be an ordinary Tuesday was, in fact, a sacred appointment with God.

After all, holy ground is seldom marked by signs. It is recognized by hearts that have learned to notice the presence of the One who walks beside us every day.

So, watch your step! The ground you are standing on at any given moment could be Holy Terra Firma!

(This column is based on a sermon I preached at the First Baptist Church in Pensacola on July 12, 2009.)

In his first epistle to the Corinthians (11:1), Paul urged the believers to, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ

There is something transformative about walking where the apostle Paul once walked—standing in the shadows of ancient cities, tracing the roads of his missionary journeys, and imagining the courage it took to carry the gospel into unfamiliar and often hostile places.

All the members of our travel group arrived home safely yesterday after our 12-day tour following the footsteps of Paul.

From Thessaloniki to Philippi, from Berea to Athens—and even reflecting on the missed opportunity to visit Ephesus and Patmos—this journey has deepened our understanding of Paul’s life, ministry, and message.

Here are ten things we learned about Paul while following in his footsteps:

1. Paul went where the people were.
In every city, Paul positioned himself where conversations were already happening—synagogues, marketplaces, and gathering places. In Areopagus (Mars Hill), he engaged philosophers in thoughtful dialogue (Acts 17).

Paul practiced the words of Jesus from Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Paul reminds us that mission begins where people already are.

2. Paul adapted his approach without compromising his message.
In Jewish settings, Paul reasoned from Scripture. In Athens, he quoted Greek poets and connected with their worldview.

As John Stott once said, “We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.”

Paul met people where they were—but always pointed them to Christ.

3. Paul faced opposition almost everywhere he went.
In Thessaloniki and Philippi, he encountered resistance, imprisonment, and persecution (Acts 16–17).

Perhaps it was because of experiences like this that Paul wrote to young Timothy, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (II Timothy 3:12)

Faithfulness does not guarantee ease, but it does produce endurance.

4. Paul invested in people, not just places.
In Berea, he encountered believers who eagerly studied the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). His ministry was never about checking locations off a map—it was about nurturing lives.

The historian Will Durant once observed, “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.” Paul knew that transformed people shape transformed communities.

5. Paul trusted God in uncertain circumstances.
Whether traveling dangerous roads or enduring imprisonment, Paul moved forward in faith.

Paul believed that God’s presence and purpose were persistent. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28)

Even when plans change—like our missed stops in Ephesus, Patmos, and Santorini—God’s purposes are still at work.

6. Paul proclaimed a bold and relevant gospel.
Standing in a culture filled with idols, Paul did not dilute the truth. But neither did he aim to offend. He dialogued with others at their point of need and their level of understanding. At Mars Hill, he proclaimed the one true God (Acts 17:24).

As C.S. Lewis wrote, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.”

Paul preached a gospel that invited deeper thought and an informed response.

7. Paul saw every city as a mission field.
From bustling ports to intellectual centers, Paul viewed each location as an opportunity. Athens, with all its philosophy and culture, was no exception.

David Livingstone later wrote, “Here is a plain truth: God calls us to go where He is not known.”

No place was too complex, too pagan, or too resistant.

8. Paul built bridges through common ground.
In Athens, Paul referenced an altar to an unknown god and used it as a starting point (Acts 17:23).

This approach reminds us that connection often precedes conversion.

9. Paul left a lasting legacy through his letters.
Though we could not walk the streets of Ephesus, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians continues to shape the church today. Whether writing from his sojourn or a prison cell, Paul’s correspondence was practical, contextual, and encouraging.

Although Paul did not know his correspondence would end up in the New Testament, Paul believed, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching…” (II Timothy 3:16)

Paul’s influence extends far beyond geography.

10. Paul’s life pointed others to Christ, not to himself.
Ultimately, Paul’s journey was never about Paul. It was about Jesus.

His daring perspective is summarized in his words, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

As Augustine of Hippo once said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

Although we had a few delays and cancellations during our coming and going, this journey was more than a tour—it has been a pilgrimage.

We have stood in ancient cities, traced sacred stories, and reflected on a man whose life was wholly surrendered to God’s mission. Even in the places we could not visit, like Ephesus, the impact of Paul’s ministry remains undeniable.

And perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all: Faithfulness is not measured by where you go, but by how fully you follow.

As we return home, may we carry Paul’s example with us as we aim to live boldly, love deeply, and encourage generously.

Although our journey has ended, our mission continues.

You can follow the journal of this journey at Ancient Footsteps: Highlights from Our Missionary Journeys of Paul Tour 2026.