Resting in the Garden

I was very busy at work today. I didn’t stop to rest for a second, as I wanted to get a lot of organizing done and certain other tasks out of the way in anticipation of the busy weekend ahead. As I was working, the gentlest voice spoke within my heart. He said to me, “Come into My garden.” I smiled to myself as I thought what a beautiful invitation this was. It wasn’t just the words, but the feeling behind the words. When your Master calls, there is a feeling like none other. After a pause He spoke again. “Don’t go out tonight. Come into My garden.” And then again a moment later, “Come into My garden.”

Is this the first time this has happened? No. I have felt the wooing of my Lord before. But every time it’s like being asked out on a first date all over again. For each of us the Lord’s garden is something unique and special, only meant for us and Him. He prepares a place for us as if we were the only person He chose to visit in this manner.

I then began to picture what this garden would look like. I had imagined other, different gardens before. But today, I imagined a small, beautiful garden with small quiet fountains and many flowers. Especially roses… my favorite. I happen to like Japanese gardens in particular, and I think I was imagining something like this. I thought of dew on bright green plants and a light mist gently falling, and then slowly parting so we could see each other. I pictured a quiet place with much peace. Perhaps no words even had to be spoken between us for a time.

Beyond the physical beauty of the place, there is the excitement and the expectation that comes. We might say to ourselves, “I wonder what He wants to say to me? I wonder what we will talk about?

After I finished working today, I actually went to a couple of garden shops so I could walk around and enjoy the flowers and plants. I was also shopping for this coming Sunday, which is Mother’s Day. Even walking around in a place like this, I could relax and feel at peace. What is it about a garden that is so special? Is it a reminder to us of a place we once occupied, in complete and perfect union with God? That beautiful place that Jesus left, to rescue us and bring us back to Him?

Go to Him. He waits for each and every one of us to behold Him as He really is. This is the only way we can see ourselves and others as He truly meant for us and them to be. How can we say we love God if we do not love others? How can we say we truly love others, if we do not love God? Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15: 4-5)

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15: 12-13)

" No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15: 15)

I Will Rise to Meet You

I had an experience earlier this afternoon that causes me to reflect once again on the amazing love and majesty of God. I was in a store picking up things I needed, and this image and statement came to me in a flash within my heart and mind: Jesus was sitting on a throne, and as He stood up and looked toward me He said, “I will rise to meet you.”

I was a bit surprised as I was not expecting this at all. But, behind the normal routine of life I feel I have been lead into the desert so that He may speak to me more clearly. While life moves forward and there are good things happening, I feel as well that I am being stripped of all needless baggage and being led to a lonely place for a time.

It seems to me that a process that was started earlier this autumn is continuing with more intensity and increased speed. Many situations have converged at once to clear the path ahead I believe. It is true that while there is a part of me that would like for things to continue on as they are, I know they simply cannot. It is also true that I have held on to certain things far too long.

While Jesus walked in the flesh, He was very present and aware of everyday existence. At the same time, He was intensely focused on accomplishing His eternal mission. He had strong words in regard to those who desired to follow Him:

To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9: 59-62)

In the process of letting go of all that besets us as we walk toward God, He meets us half way and comes toward us with passionate, loving expectancy. He is not content to simply sit and wait for us in such a nonchalant manner as if He had better things to do.

His invitation costs us nothing less than everything, but in return we gain the fullness of relationship with Him who is the author of all creation and a God who is absolute perfection in love, for now, and all of eternity.

Amen.