Making Space for Unplanned Beauty by Barry Hughes

My neighborhood is very neat and orderly. The sidewalks straight. The lawns mowed. The driveways edged. The trees trimmed. The landscaping beautiful. The rules followed. We are scrubbed, starched and buttoned down. Well, almost.

This neighbor decided to break free, to exercise their individuality. In the space between the sidewalk and the street, they scraped away the meticulously manicured sod and tossed in a mix of wildflower seeds. In amazingly short order this little section of the yard was alive and wild with color. Though I passed this way day after day, I somehow never noticed. Until today.

Most of us work very hard at keeping our lives neat and orderly, which is a good thing. We follow the rules and manage very well in our scrubbed, starched and buttoned down routines. But sometimes we forget to save a little space that allows something new and surprising to grow. A few minutes of unscheduled time for reflection. A special spot in our hectic day for prayer. Maybe a block of time now and then to enjoy a hobby or to try something new and creative, even if we aren’t very good at it. We need space where we might be surprised by unplanned moments of beauty.

The God that created this marvelously diverse and beautiful world we share invites us to join the ongoing dynamic of creation. We can be a part of creating a kinder world. We can be a part of creating more loving relationships. We can be a part of creating beauty for beauty’s sake. But to do so, we have to make a little space. We have to scrape off a little of our meticulously manicured sod and see what grows in its place. We have to trust The Creator to be at work in the open and cleared soil we offer. Who knows? In moments such as these, we too may burst forth, alive with color.

Peace.