Garden Guest by Amy Anderson

Return to the garden,
the garden of your soul.

High hedgerow,
shaded bench;

rest awhile and
breathe
here in
the familiar comfort
where art
grows.

Outside voices
fade.

Is this corner
here
overrun with unwelcome
vines and tangly
thistles?

Gloved hands reach in and
weed
with purpose;
swiftly remove invasive roots.

Now,
standing up
hands on hips,
look around and bask.
Breathe, think, dream
create.

Rest under the oak and read,
lean against its steady trunk;
in the dappled light beneath its towering,
overlapping
branches.

Time is the nectar;
writing is the honey that flows from
this hallowed place.

Now,
blossoms
grow unhindered.
Life-ready
word-flowers
pierce the earth,
valiantly seek light.

Rusty hinges squeak;
gate swings open.

“I need to get that fixed,”
you murmur.

Turning, you
lock eyes with

Garden Guest.

Guest sits down on
your
bench. Little did you know,

while “holed” up in the garden,
you
were preparing this flower
just for her.

Garden Guest.

Revisit what you grow.

Walk quiet
the path of your soul’s
garden.

Amy Anderson is the founder of Unhurried Presence, a non-profit ministry creating resources to help folks slow down, breathe a little deeper, and love compassionately. Drawing from the liturgical calendar and the treasure trove of Scripture, her passion is to encourage an authentic renewal of contemplative faith with Christ at the center. She has been married twelve years to Luke, a witty neuropsychologist. They’re raising their two precious daughters in Southwest Michigan—a beautiful and quiet place to call home. Swing by unhurriedpresence.com to learn about Amy’s Morning RITUAL, and check out her devotional resources on Instagram @unhurriedpresence.