How Reframing an Old Broken Bench Became a Peaceful Place for Prayer
Wide-eyed, she came through the front door and said, “I broke your bench. My husband is coming with Gorilla Glue.”
The bench weathered outside for over 20 years and needed replacing, even before being battered in our epic ice storm. I’m pretty sure a robin landing on it would send it crashing to the ground. The broken bench was far beyond a glue repair, which led to a summer I never could have imagined.
Pastors, chaplains, missionaries, and church staff use the lower level of my home for writing, Bible translations, respite, and meetings. During intense seasons of writing, prayer, or Sabbath with the Lord, some people are here for 8-10 hours. From time to time, I hear the sliding glass door roll open and close as they break for fresh air and a little walk.
The rolling of the door coupled with the broken bench prompted contact with a landscape architect friend.
I asked, “Would you be willing to share a few ideas for making an outdoor space an invitation for prayer?” At that point, I imagined she might send me a list of plants to buy or suggest a few other ideas via text. Beyond my wildest dreams, she showed up at my house two weeks later with blueprints-real blueprints!
A spiral labyrinth served as the focal point in her blueprint rendering. It is amazing how the Lord works. She had no way of knowing my Bible study group spent the warm days of last summer immersed in the book Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown. Inspired by the novel, we shared several new prayer practices together, including praying while walking through a labyrinth.
After two weeks of praying over the blueprints and discussing ideas, we broke ground.
Sometimes things get a lot worse before they get better. The yard and my heart would experience tearing down before the building up began.
My dreams of creating a special place for prayer and peace wavered during the early phases of the project. With each scoop of hard soil removed and each plant lifted from the ground in the sweltering heat, I questioned the decision to move forward with this project.
Three insights became pivotal in calming my anxious heart.
1. Understanding Foundations: During the hand-pouring of the concrete, my heart reached a new understanding of how significant foundations are. Regardless of being unseen, foundations for labyrinths, foundations for buildings, and foundations for our lives matter.
1 Peter 5:10 NLT says, “In his kindness, God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”
The Lord has restored, supported, and strengthened me. Now it is my turn to offer a firm foundation to others.
2. Scriptures & Prayer: My heart shifted further towards peace when friends and family wrote Scriptures and prayers on the solid foundation of the labyrinth.
3. The Lord’s Presence: With the labyrinth near the 85% completion mark, the landscape architect returned to place trees and plants full of fragrance, color, texture, and invitation. She appeared deep in contemplation, arranging the garden when something extraordinary happened.
God is so holy, clouds often conceal His appearances in the Bible. In Exodus, the Lord appears to Moses through the veil of a cloud on Mt. Siani. God leads the Israelites through the wilderness by a cloud during the day. The beautiful Pacific Northwest summer sky held only faint wisps of clouds, but a clear sense of the Lord’s presence descended and filled the space with peace.
His Holiness brought a delightful full-body shiver even though the ambient temperature exceeded 100F. We all paused, rising from our bent positions. Without words, we exchanged questioning glances, wondering if each other experienced the same indwelling. Soft smiles and slight nods confirmed we all felt the holy moment. Awe and humbleness engulfed our hearts. It was at that moment we realized the Lord found the garden labyrinth a suitable offering for His dwelling. It was a day forever marking on our hearts.
My second-guessing regarding building the labyrinth has long since passed. Now, my heart sparkles with delight, imagining how the Lord’s presence and the gift of peace will bless all who visit. I’m so thankful the first bench broke. God willing, the new bench will provide a sacred space of rest and prayer for at least the next twenty years.
One of my prayers written on the foundation under the labyrinth says, “May God bless all who enter here.” If you are in the area, consider this as your open invitation to visit. Stroll with the Lord, praying through the labyrinth. If you are not in the area, use the worldwide labyrinth locator to discover a labyrinth near you.
Special Thanks and Blessings to:
Darcy Hansen: for breaking the bench
Bethany Rydmark Landscapes: for design & support beyond anything I ever imagined
Red Valley Landscaping: Raul, Antonio, and Manny, my new brothers and for placing each pebble as if they were building the Sistine Chapel
Mom & Dad: for the fountain reminding me of your overflowing love for me
Girl Power Team: Mom, Lily Hobi, Heather Fignar, Bethany Rydmark, Tamara Griffin for heavy lifting on hot days
Mom: for keeping the guys going with countless cookies, cakes, popsicles, lunches, and bottles of water during an unprecedented summer of 100F+ days during the months of construction
Friends: for stopping by and writing Scriptures and prayers on the concrete
Tamara Griffin: for pots to save existing plants & hauling rocks away
Sharon Garlough Brown: Sensible Shoes book
Teresa Jensen: for sharing your delightful Saturday morning encounters with the Lord on the labyrinth