Creating Space: a path to comtemplation

"He brought me out into a broad place;
    he rescued me, because he delighted in me." -Psalm 18:19

One of my favorite places in the world is a quiet meadow in the back of my family's property. There's nothing entirely special about it, it's just a small grassy area that is surrounded by trees and bordered by a fence on the far side.

The reason this area is so special to me involves the way you get there. You see, you can come across the pasture or up from the pond, past the post oak tree that used to stand and mark an old homeplace then you turn a slight left and you will arrive. Or you can even take the straight road between the hard wooded fence line and a pine forest, this way is direct and yet quite magical in the narrow space between the trees.

But the third option is an infinitely unique path through the forest. See the thing is, this wooded area has a plethora of paths that are in various states of dishevelment. They were created in years past when the field was planted with watermelons. After that summer crop was down, a man on a tractor decided to aimlessly wander creating paths that would survive the years, the planting of pine trees and their subsequent growth and add to my confusion today. Other obstacles on this quest include holes that were carelessly dug at random and are now the worst fear of tires and ankles, as well as the occasional fallen tree or branch that obscure the path or make it impassable. The atmosphere of that place is beyond compare. The ground is covered by a thick carpet of straw and the ceiling is comprised of pine boughs that perfectly filter the sunlight. The smell is exquisite when the wind blows and the colors are intoxicating; evergreen, rust and brown form the palate. The trees grow in rows, but there are plenty of imperfections and anomalies, trees that were diseased and had to be terminated as well as those who grew more quickly, taller or wider. All this combines to make it a place where each turn is different and yet, it's easy to get lost in the sameness of it all.

It's a place you have to know to be able to navigate and you can't always see your way out or realize the direction in which you are going. You really need to spend some time there or receive guidance to learn the mysterious paths.

But you see it's the forest that makes that meadow so beautiful and appealing. When you've finally make it there you realize the light is shining. The ground is full of fresh, green grass. Wild flowers dot the corners, inviting you to stay a while so their simple beauty can open and heal your heart without words. All of a sudden you are aware of the sky in a whole new way. The sun is visible overhead, no longer obscured by the treetops and you can see where you are going and the boundaries of this space. You realize that you are in a fresh, wide open space, and you can breathe, dance, create or bask in the beauty of the day.

Spend a few moments in silence.

You may choose to wander in the forest of your mind to contemplate the path you chose to get here.

You may see the meadow in your heart and long to spend some time taking in your surroundings. 

You may already hear the voice of the One who's called you here 

and invited you to attend to His presence in your soul. 

Sit and wait.