Reminders of the Holy...Roadside Prayer Shrines

Prayer Shrine near Bisbee, AZ

Little roadside prayer shrines.  We may drive past most of these without realizing they are there as we whiz down highways and back roads.  But if we do notice them and actually take the time to stop, look and listen to these little gems, we enter into another world.  

A couple of years ago I was driving in southern Arizona on a highway just north of the town of Bisbee.  I happened to notice a small, white structure, on the side of the road...a prayer shrine. 

I stopped for a look and snapped this photo.  As you can see, it is brick, painted white, has a locked gate and statue of the Lady of Guadalupe, flowers and candles.

I stood there by the shrine as cars whisked by.  In between the occasional car rushing by were moments of silence and the sounds of nature, birds, wind... in the high southern desert mountains of Arizona.  It was beautiful.  

As I stood there looking into the shrine, time seemed to slow down.  I wondered who built this?  Who maintains it?  But it really did not matter...for how nice it was there...

Prayer Shrine near Globe - Miami, AZ

Here is another prayer shrine on the Arizona road, near the towns of Miami and Globe.  This shrine is a little bigger and much more ornate with many pictures, candles, prayers, statues and so forth.  

And this little prayer shrine is near Tombstone, AZ. 

I know there are many more.  

What a gift they are.