Finding space in creation

I've been musing a lot about "Worship Space," recently. I find that I have trouble defining what I mean by that, and that makes creating it for other people a bit more difficult as well. I have a gut reaction when I hear the phrase, and I know what I mean, even if I can't explain it or apparently recreate what it is in real life. So therein lies my struggle. In my heart, in my head, in my "gut" I know what I'm looking for; but putting it into real terms that others can feel and respond to is more difficult.

Worship space to me is more than just candles, incense, iconography, music, and ambience (though all of these are good things and aid in worship). It's a place to meet God. Worship space, then, is limited only by the presence of God. So if God is present everywhere, then worship space can be anywhere. It's probably omnipresent, but I hate to apply that term too loosely. Goodness knows that if I say it, someone will respond negatively. :-) But let's muse together.

God is everywhere. God created all things. All things reflect the glory and beauty and majesty and even judgment of God. Creation in itself is meant to direct our worship towards the Almighty creator and savior of the universe and to Jesus. So anywhere can be worship space. We can go into a grand cathedral or into a small cottage and find God there, if we take the time to be sensitive to His presence and respond with worship.

But what about those places that seem to stand in the way of worship? What about those things which prevent us from experiencing God's presence and there is no worship that takes place? Are we just blind? Are we just being thick? Is it really that hard to "Create" worship space, when it's been created for us? What if everywhere we went was worship space to us? What if, instead of forcing it, we embraced the space given to us and the God who is There and gave ourselves fully over to His worship and adoration? Is it all just futile?

And so I look to create worship space for personal use and for others. At home, I have my prayer closet, and that works just fine. But to give others the same space is not so easy. It's more than just adding candles and smells and multi-sensory worship experiences....but those are all good things. How do you fill a space so that when people enter they experience and know the presence of God in their lives?