A Place of Prayer: Peace
In the small eucalyptus woods, within the Monarch Butterfly Grove, stands a beautiful bench engraved with a monarch butterfly. It's only a five-minute walk behind my house, a place I visit constantly. It is my qurentia[safe haven] and my place of prayer.
I’m told this area, once dense with eucalyptus forest, was largely cleared when the new housing community was built, and only this small section was preserved. I'm grateful that even this much remains. For the past few years, this has been my spot to pause and rest during my daily walk. When I have a worry, I intentionally come here to pray. This place where I meet with God often feels like a bench prepared just for me by Him. Seeing it empty every time I go, I suspect I might be the one who sits on it the most.
The first time I saw the artistic bench with the monarch butterfly carved into it, I was surprised. It feels like a bench meant for an artist. And the purple flowers and their fragrance that greet me as I enter the woods—how enchanting they are! I inhale the fragrance of the higher blossoms, while Toby buries his nose into the lower-lying flowers, equally intoxicated by the scent. Following the winding path, the subtle, rising fragrance of the eucalyptus itself is the scent of forest healing. It permeates my entire body, soothing every cell and my soul.
The birds' orchestra echoing throughout the woods is an audio experience indispensable to my five senses. I sit on the bench, my place of prayer, tilt my head back, and call out to my God, my Abba Father. I share my troubles, and sometimes I simply recite the Lord's Prayer. This is also where I once spotted a pair of owls, said to bring good fortune, whispering sweetly to each other.
At sunset, the red glow seems to burn, spreading through the thick trees. In the early morning, the air is refreshing, and the amplified chirping of the birds brings spontaneous gratitude. On foggy days, I share in the romantic sentiment of the trees shrouded in mist.
In this place, which is my own personal oasis, I am healed and meet quietly with God. I give thanks to God for gifting me this place of prayer—this bench that brings peace to my heart—and to the person who dedicated it. I truly hope they know how well I am using it, wearing it down even.
Sunset Serenade 20×16” Oil on Canvas
Eucalyptus Aroma 24×18” Oil on Canvas
Forest Reverie 14×11” Oil on Canvas
The Quarantia of the Grove 20×16” Oil on Canvas
Dazzling Lights on the Grove 10×8 Oil on Canvas
