Holy places in the Bible include the tabernacle, temple, certain mountains and varied and sundry places where a pile of rocks were placed as a memorial to God’s presence and help. Some holy places have nothing in them (an empty tomb). Some did not have memorial stones or any recognizable features that would remind us of God’s presence there (Mt. Sinai, the burning bush). Some were rather ornate (the temple and tabernacle). Oddly, the one place where the pillar of cloud and fire stood was over a movable place (the tabernacle). There is strong symbolism there, that God lives, moves, is not stationary, is not bound or restricted. That is why notion of temple, in the New Testament, shifted from a building to a person- a moving and living being. God makes the place holy, the place is not inherently holy. God makes people and moments holy. He is moving there. That is why we are told to "be holy". It is tantamount to making ourselves open to the residence of God in our lives. That’s God’s plan.
I am in a holy place as I write. I am in a hospital room with four wonderful children, their spouses, one grandchild and a wonderful wife. The Holy Spirit is here- living and moving in his people and it is a holy place. The instuments in this ICU ward do not make it holy. God’s presence in his people does. It is interesting that ruach is the word for "Spirit" and "breath" alike in Hebrew. At this moment, we are praying for more of both- the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit and for breath (at this point illusive and hard to come by for one of my children) to be experienced in increasing measure. God has definitely given us his wonderful presence. No question. It is difficult to see the latter so hard to obtain. Throughout our lives we took breath for granted and yearned for the Spirit of the Lord. Now, we are comforted by the obvious presence of the Holy Spirit and yearn to see breath. An irony! But, the Holy Spirit does not stop breathing on and in his people. Praise God!