In the Garden Alone

This past Saturday a committee of friends organized a Celebration of Life for Jim Durkin. We arrived early to set up and decorate the room and halls provided for us at the church for the gathering. As things began to take shape I took my camera and walked into the garden that was right off our room. The words of IN THE GARDEN, or I COME TO THE GARDEN ALONE began to stir my soul.
~~~~~~

I come to the garden alone
While the dew
Is still on the roses
And the voices I hear
Falling on my ear
The son of God discloses.

And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known.

He speaks
And the sound
Of his voice
Is so sweet the birds
Hush their singin'
And the melody
That He gave to me
Within my hearts is ringing.

And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known.

And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known...

~~~~~

As I walked through the doors to the prayer and meditation garden I was immediately struck with the reality of teeming life. Bees and butterflies were everywhere. The sun was bright and the garden was overgrown and full of hiding places for busy harvesters of nectar. I even spied a hummingbird moth as my eye caught the characteristic movement amid some blooms.

God was telling me that it was going to be an amazing afternoon of love and sharing. It was indeed, a celebration of life. At the end of the celebration we had a dove release that was also significant as the doves flew off from the garden. That story to be continued in the next blog entry.