An Enchanted Place

I got back yesterday from Sea Ranch, a wonderful spot on the Northern California coast where my future mother-in-law now lives full-time. I have mentioned this place before, as we visit pretty often, and it is a breath of fresh air.

You could say that all of Sea Ranch is an enchanted place—the community has made a large effort to keep the area natural with abundant common lands that lend themselves to deer spotting, an amazing number of architecturally interesting homes, and of course, the wild, natural Pacific Ocean, visible from almost everyplace.

But recently, I discovered the most amazing building/dwelling/abode that I have ever seen. It’s the type of little place I must have passed by several times and missed, just by turning my head. But now that I’ve found it and been inside, it’s seems heretical not to have known it sooner.

This place is the Sea Ranch Chapel. I am not a religious person—as so many stories go, I was brought up with a Catholic background which I have now abandoned completely. I don’t believe in any particular God. Maybe I believe in many little gods, or some big essence or power, but we’ll leave religion for another day.

I want to take you on a tour of this amazingly inspirational place, perhaps the one “church” I would ever consider visiting as a habit or routine.

The chapel is set back from the road, so as I said, you could easily miss it just by turning your head. But once you see it and process it, any curious person would wonder, “what is such a fairytale dwelling doing in this world?” It looks like a place for fairies and elves.

As you can find out on the website, this “non-denominational sanctuary for prayer, mediation, and spiritual renewal” was the gift of two Sea Ranch residents. I think these people must have been artists or incredible patrons of the arts, because such an amazing gift could only ever be given by someone who really values creative and inspirational space. If ever I saw a building that is a work of art, it is this one.

A San Diego artist and architectural designer by the name of James Hubbel is responsible for all of this creativity. Hubbel not only designed the chapel, but he designed and crafted the windows, doors, chandelier and many other little details. He received a “Special Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship” from the California Council of the American Institute of Architects in 1985 for his work, with special emphasis on this chapel.

The most amazing thing about this chapel is that Hubbel made every detail into a work of art. The more you look, the more you see, from the mosaics in the floor, to the rustic wood crafting, and delicate stained glass windows.

Because the chapel is solely dedicated to private meditation and prayer, you can often find it empty and spend time sitting there alone, soaking up the quiet and opening up your mind.

I feel lucky to have stumbled upon this little enchanted place. It feels like a space in honor of creativity, maybe a shrine to creation, both large and small. As I’m so often inclined to think in metaphors, this place feels like a metaphor for the life I want to create—there is thought and intention in every corner, a great appreciation for small beauties, and creativity and inspiration all around.