I sat in the park today after church, a little park right next to our little square, sometimes filled with people playing basketball, but today no one was there. The air was cool with a slight breeze. I sat under the honeylocust tree on a wooden bench made up of three thick oak slats running under me and behind me. I brought along my pipe to smoke, some number 10 blend tobacco, my little bible, a banana, and some water. I decided that I would spend some time with my Maker, to listen to Him and to read of His word.
I sat down upon the oak bench and enjoyed the breeze on my face and against the hair of my legs, the peace of the moment was gracious, the sound of the wind beautiful. I read in proverbs 15:1 and meditated on this scripture: "A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word brings about anger". I breathed deeply the peace of the day, my favorite day, Sunday, my day of rest. The Sabbath was created for man, not man for the Sabbath. How beautiful is this gift, a whole day of rest, to rest in Christ and remember our true provider.
I took some time to pray amongst the breeze, when an older gentlemen walked into the small little park. He was certainly a gentlemen for he was wearing fine leather shoes, dark slacks, high expensive socks, and a cap with the colors of Autumn in the shape of small squares. He walked with his hands behind his back and took a seat on another bench in the park. He simply sat and seemed peaceful. I had a strange desire to go and learn from him.
But I continued to sit and to pray, to meditate and to listen. The breeze continued to blow and the soft air brushed upon the stubble on my face. The air smelt of the changing of the seasons while few of the seed pods left hung twirling on the honeylocust above me. I didn't feel like the old man, but I related to him as we both sat enjoying our Father's creation. I looked down at my feet and noticed the leather shoes of an older man, which I loved to wear, perhaps I did feel old.
Then I remembered that I was taking much for granted so I closed my eyes and thought of what it would be like to be blind and see for the first time. I opened them and experienced the bright colors of the swing set, the deep green of the foliage, the red of the town house and the blue, and endless blue and white of the sky above me, of my loving Father looking down on me. I remember his words in Mark 1 of him looking down on Christ and calling him his beloved son with whom he is well pleased. My heart breaks at this thought, of not only the grace of the day, but that I am sitting there alone just me and my Dad, sharing the beauty He has created, and all the while whispering to me that I also am His, His beloved son, and that because of my Lord Jesus Christ, He can even be pleased with me.
We take creation and subdue it; we destroy a tree and dominate it... But it's beautiful building that rocking chair, and it's good to sit still, to rock back and forth, back and forth, and to be peaceful for a moment. 
