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)

Simplicity of Love

I've been pondering the significance of simplicity recently. It gives me cause to think of Jesus and his focus on simplicity in Matthew 10:42. "And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."

It also gives me cause to think back to my Confirmation when I was trying think of what name I would choose. It seemed everyone was picking Mary or Elizabeth. I chose Veronica. I remember wanting to choose a name that had a personal meaning to me. I was always moved as a child by the image of Veronica wiping the face of Jesus when He fell under the weight of His cross. That simple act had so much meaning and significance for me. It was as if I could identify with Veronica's compassion, and urgency that she just had to get to Him to offer some sort of comfort. I would imagine myself as Veronica kneeling to wipe his face, and wondering how He would have looked at me. In my heart, it is the simplicity of the act that makes it truly great.

I now imagine two people standing side by side in heaven. One is a martyr perhaps, and the other might have indeed given a cup of cold water to a child, that's all. Which act deserves the greater reward? Perhaps some might be inclined to think that the martyr should receive a special reward for his brave act. It is neither really in my opinion. Because what it really comes down to is the condition of the heart in which the act was done. I don't think there are any 'proud' martyrs in heaven. A cup of cold water given from a heart bursting with compassion, is far more significant than giving up a life for any other reason. So, I suppose another way to say it is, no matter how "great" an act is, was it done with simplicity of heart, a heart of love?

"So faith, hope, love, abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

And finally........

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)

And since we know God is Love....

Purity of heart is a heart of love, and it is a simple thing.