Fences and centering prayer

As part of a current exploration of spiritual disciplines, I’m enjoying ‘centering prayer’. This is an ancient way of praying in which you keep coming back to a key word or phrase and otherwise remain silent in the presence of God. The intention is that you listen to God rather than just talk and talk and talk at him. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but very helpful. 

Yesterday, I practised ‘centering prayer’ using a Scripture which had come up in my daily reading:  “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28b). 

But the fence kept playing on my mind. 

I had set myself up to enjoy a fine Melbourne day as I practised centering prayer. A faded terracotta-red outdoor cushion protected me from the freshly-cut grass. The cat was curled up next to me. My neighbour’s young chickens are learning to cluck, and their calls blended with those of other birds high up in the trees. 

I was ready.

Hands on my lap, palms up, the timer on my phone set so that I can’t wimp out early from this period of worship, I settle down for just ten minutes. All I want to do is to focus on the Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, for ten short minutes. 

But I keep thinking about the fence. 

I have five neighbours and share ownership of four fences, despite only having a small backyard. One fence is in danger of falling down. The neighbours and I agree that we want to put off the inevitable for as long as possible. One day, it will need to be replaced. And that won’t be cheap. 

That is not a problem for today. 

So why do thoughts of the fence keep filling my mind? I bid them go away and return again to Scripture. “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” 

As the ten minutes progress, my thoughts flit between the fence and worship. “The Lord is the everlasting God……”

It occurs to me that the Lord created this little piece of earth on which I sit. He saw this land when it was untouched Australian bushland. He saw this land when local people, who first called this land ‘Mooroolbark’, made this their home, though not for them constraining little blocks with five neighbours and four fences. He saw this land when the current fence was first built. He sees this land now. And he already knows what is ahead. One day, when the Creator redeems all creation, fences won’t be needed. In that day, we will live in harmony with one another, neighbourhood cats included. 

I finish my ten minutes of centering prayer. I may not have practised centering prayer quite perfectly, but I have come out of it with a realigned perspective. Temporary worries such as the rotting fence fade into insigificance. It’s not a big deal, because ‘The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.’