I COME TO THE GARDEN ALONE.

The songwriter wrote:

I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

Today as I went into my garden all alone to pick some berries and some cherries, I was taken back to some precious childhood memories.  I grew up with 5 siblings and a cousin on a farm, so there were always fun activities, and noise in our yard.  Yes, we were the outdoor kids. At that time in Belize, we did not have a television, or an iPad or iPhone, as a matter of fact, the internet didn’t even exist.  Despite all the playing; all the chanting “red rover run over” challenges, all the trading an “Alley”  in a ring game of  “marbles” ,  singing the classic songs of ” Miss Lucy had a baby” in skipping matches, the “what time is it Mr Wolf” challenges, the   “hide and seek” playtime, and all the other outdoor games that my sisters and brothers played, I was that kid who always preferred solitary play.

Whether solitary play was healthy or not for a child, it was my favorite thing.  While the others were playing and making noise, looking all happy and having their fun, I would be alone exploring in my own little adventureous world.  Those adventures would normally take me far away from everyone, most of the times to the outer most part of the farm.  It was a big twenty acre farm, so if I let off a scream for help, no one would have heard.  You can only imagined what happened when I found out about the network of log roads which were connected to my dad’s farm.  My imagination and exploration expanded, deeper into unknown territories, taking me to bigger ponds, and unexplored Mayan archaeological sites, covered with canopies in the tropical rain-forest.  This was my secret “hiding place” that I kept hidden from the rest of the family, and despite being aware of the potential dangers, I would still find my way into my secret forest, sometimes walking for hours or just hanging out on big logs overhanging in the ponds.

Something magical took place in that forest.  The quality of my innocence protected me from all fears.  I now look back and realize God was there with me all along.  Sometimes in solace we can hear Him. I felt such protection, such peace, such excitement, such amazement of my surroundings, such fearless imagination; it could only have come from God.  I was able to appreciate and find amazement in the works of even the tiniest ants.  Little puddles became wide bottomless oceans that I could cross without falling in.  Our faith must be just the way I viewed my world as a child; trusting with a pure  non corrupted heart.  It was my rarefied quality of ignorance that kept me feeling safe.  In order to experience God’s power we must believe in his unseen presence, just the way some of us believed in the irrational; in fairies, Santa Clause, Tata Duende in the forest, and monsters under the bed, or in the infinite power and goodness of our parents.

Today, as I sat alone in my garden, I reflected back with a smile on my face of those many times I spent alone in the forest as a child.  I started conversing with my Lord.  .  For a short period ( a very short period) I was able to experience  a mysterious operation of self in a different dimension, similar to the times in the forest where that part  of me entered into my mental universes from which all others were soon to be forever excluded. I could hear the wind, the birds, and the mosquitoes singing in my ear. But still  I couldn’t hear them, if you know what I mean.   And at that very moment, I was able to hear His voice.  Such confirmation, such affirmation, such a peace.

Mark 1:34 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Matthew 14: 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone.  Psalm 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. My solitary plays and adventures and quiet times alone was where I felt safe, where I felt the most peace.  Today alone in my garden, while praying, I felt “that rest” in the shadow of the Almighty- I know it was his presence.  God knows I needed that.

Looking back now, I recall the dirt roads in the forest were filled with potholes and bumps, little hills, just as life’s journey is filled with distractions, pitfalls and struggles.  But that did not stop me from continuing my journeys.  It is ironic that as an adult I am terrified by snakes, and frogs and any creepy crawly creatures, but as a child I would venture fearlessly into my little voyages, knowing that I was surrounded by the fer DE lance and coral snakes, lurking  jaguars, the legendary Jackie Vasquez, known for stealing kids, and the mystical Tata Duende, the midget man with his feet backwards who lured children into the forest and their parents would never see them again.  Unless, we have this childlike type of faith, we will never be able to experience that peace, that assurance, that presence. We will never be able to cross the hurdles, and climb the mountains with our hands wide open.   Sometimes we need to come to the garden alone and meet Him at that solitary place; listen to what He is trying to tell us.  Perhaps we may never unlearn the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but we can certainly experience our ancient innocence by listening to the wind, gazing into the midnight skies, hearing the songs of the waves, the melodies of the birds.  Such tranquility! such escape! such hope!  I say thank You Lord

Hill song United –

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give grace to do you will.