Christian Living

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“Be still and know that I am God.” -- Psalm 46:10 (NAS)

We have no trees in our backyard. We have a short, chain-link fence, a shed and a whole lot of grass. I don’t want to say that we live in a fishbowl, but whenever we are outside, we might as well be in our neighbors’ yards. They can see everything we do and hear everything we say. They let us know it too.

Shortly after we bought this house, the neighbors to our right put up a six-foot privacy fence. All the other neighbors poured upon us unsolicited support. They all wanted us to know THEY didn’t think our daughter was too loud or obnoxious. They believed we were good neighbors and our little Isabel was adorable. I wasn’t offended by the fence at all -- until I received so much encouragement not to take it too personally.

It doesn’t stop there. One neighbor gives reports to our visiting relatives of what she sees in our yard and relationship. Another reminds us when to trim our trees and edge our lawn. He even offers his tools for us to borrow. Whether we like it or not, we have a very close-knit community.

Because of all this, we don’t spend a whole lot of time out there. We have a picnic or bar-be-cue on occasion, and the kids love to run around when it’s not too hot. But our yard has not been the haven I dreamed of when we decided to buy a house. Lately, I’ve been trying to change that.

We ordered some new patio furniture (even though we don’t have a patio) and now have a little playhouse for Isabel. We pull out the pool more often. The kids love it! And I try to ignore that feeling of being watched.

The biggest change, though, has been in a small corner by the shed. I stole the shade from our neighbors’ wonderfully large oak tree. In it we put a couple old Adirondack chairs given us by my in-laws when they downsized a couple years ago. The chairs desperately need to be refinished, but who has time for that with two toddlers running around? Beside: rustic is in. I pulled out all my un-used pots and filled them with flowers. I even have a little tomato plant out there.

It has been so relaxing to pour energy into this corner of our yard. It gives me something different to do with the kids. Isabel loves watering the plants and helping me trim them. Zach has a great time playing in the grass. It has been a wonderful bonding spot. More than that, it has given me a little haven. I can go out there and read – either with the kids or by myself. I don’t feel so “on display”. I can be still.

It is so much easier to know that He is God when we are still. It is not so easy to be still. One thing I learned in college was that my times with God seemed to mean so much more when I spent them outside. Maybe that is because creation screams the praises of its Creator. It could be because other responsibilities are less likely to interrupt or distract outside. Maybe it is just because I am a country girl at heart. Whatever the reason, I am able to be still and know Him more easily when I am outside. I treasure my new little haven. It has been more than worth the work to get it. The expense, creativity and effort cannot compare with the rewards of being still; the moments of quiet now relished.

How about you? Do you have a haven? A quiet place to be still? It doesn’t have to outside. It doesn’t have to be yours alone. It can be a corner in your bedroom or a few moments in the kitchen after everyone else goes to bed. If not, I encourage you to take the time and effort to find a haven for yourself. It is in those quiet, stolen moments of being still that God will make Himself known to you. When you know Him, you can know yourself better … and know the potential He has given you to fulfill the purposes He has planned for you.

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