Recently my dad bought back a house he used to own. In fact he built the house back in the 1980s. He had sold the house in order to build a larger house and always regretted letting it go. So when the house came on the market again he grabbed it.
The house is unusual, to say the least, because it is built around an indoor garden. In the center of the garden stands a fountain recycling bubbling water, and all the rooms of the house open onto the garden. Above the garden imbedded in the ceiling sit eight skylights. Natural light pours in on the lush plants and greenery on sunny days, and they flourish as if they were growing outdoors.
My dad loves beautiful landscaping and especially fountains and waterfalls. As a result for many years he worked in the landscaping business. He always loves a swimming pool in his yard and has built more outdoor water features than I can name.
By watching him through the years I have contemplated mankind and his relationship to nature. I know several people, including my husband, who find God most available to them in nature. It seems that only when they escape the hustle and bustle of the city can they slow down long enough to totally rest in the presence of God. They see God’s handiwork in trees, streams, and wildlife. Gazing at the sky either night or day carries them to heights of contemplation they never otherwise reach.
I am not one of those people but I do understand what they mean when they talk about meeting God outdoors. In fact I believe that God meant for us to be outdoors. More specifically I believe God meant for us to live in a Garden. Genesis 2:8 says, “And the Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.” Therefore the Garden was man’s place. And God provided for him there. God says in verses 1:30-31, “I have given every green plant for food” and it was so. “And God saw all that He had made and behold, it was very good.” In the Garden man had everything he needed.
Sadly we know what happened. Man messed up and was ejected from the Garden. However, I believe man still has a seed of knowing in him that remembers where he belongs. Because he knows he belongs in the Garden, he continually longs for and looks for a way back to the Garden. Whether you search for and find the perfect backyard or you, like my dad, plant a garden inside your house, there is a deep-seated longing to make a bit of Garden in your life. Size doesn’t seem to matter when it comes to gardens. It could be an acre of land you have to mow with a tractor or it could be a window box planted with herbs hanging in your apartment kitchen. There is something about a garden that calls our names.
If you feel discontented. If you know there’s something missing. If you feel uneasy in your spirit, buy a piece of earth, no matter how large or how small and get your hands in it. Plant something beautiful. Water it with love. Anticipate new growth. Celebrate the harvest…the fruit of your labor. Find peace in knowing that you are on your way to where you belong…in the Garden where God first placed mankind. Then expect God to show up…walking in the garden in the cool of the day. (Gen 3:8)
Copyright 2012 Gloria Fisher.
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