This time of year, a sense of place may overpower us. A feeling of being home, or yearning to be home, is natural when there are so many memories tied to it. We become rooted to a place, feel it become part of us, and in turn become reluctant to ever part with it. But it remains simply a place.

When we visit an historical site where something meaningful happened in human history, we feel the sense of place profoundly. Standing in the footsteps of giants makes you feel as if you’re entering their world, if only for a moment. This is the place where it happened, whatever it may be. There is connection in place.

Turn borrows place for a short time. We have our turn in the airplane seat and the taxi seat to get to a hotel for our turn using a pillow and toilet countless others have used before us. Perhaps even cleaned in between visitors. Countless others will in turn follow us. The very space between here and there are ours for a moment and then vacated for someone else to eventually occupy that space. Place is both temporary and eternal.

We ought to remember that this is our turn at the table, sharing this place with these people at this time, and be thankful for the opportunity. For place may seem eternal, but it’s simply our turn in it. Dance with that.