Garden Party

A student said to his master, "You teach me fighting, but you talk about peace. How do you reconcile the two?"

The master replied, "It is better to be a warrior in a garden than to be a gardener in a war."

A recent road trip with my buddy Brian led us to a war museum on 500 acres of land called Cantigny Park. I found it ironic that all around the outskirts of the museum that took you through 3 wars of American history were gardens. Not just any gardens, we are talking the most exquisite, lavishing, beautiful gardens imaginable.

 

Can peace co-exist with war?

 

In case you are unfamiliar with the cease fire on Christmas Day during WW1 you can scroll through my archives (December 2012) for Joyeux Noel, and read my Christmas movie review of this fascinating story.

 

Can peace exist within my own personal battle?

 

To be a warrior in a garden simply means you have readily and willingly put on your armor of God daily just as Paul instructs us to do in Ephesians 6. Even though our life may be all pretty and perfect at the moment we still need to put on that armor for we know not what lies ahead,

 

"Put on all of God's armor so you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil."

(v.11)

 

To stand firm as a warrior also means you have to have peace. A peace in knowing that God's got your back. The armor of God is there to protect you as God has said,

 

"I'm going to relieve you from defending yourself against your enemies. The battle is not yours, it belongs to Me."  (2 Chronicles 20)

 

Someone once said, "Looking at nature makes your brain work better." I believe that to be true.

Next time your needing peace within your storm find a place of refuge, a place of comfort, a place where God can restore your faith. Hmm, perhaps a beautiful garden!