In the early 1850’s the New York state legislature and city designers came up with a plan to create the first landscaped public park in the United States. It began with more than 700 acres in the center of Manhattan. They knew the potential for New York City to explode in population, and if they didn’t have a park, a place to where the public could retreat, it would greatly hinder the public health. So, Central Park was designed to be a place of retreat where the public could take a deep breath and rest.
One of the designers, Frederick Law Olmsted said,
“The beauty of the park should be the beauty of the fields, the meadow, the prairie, of the green pastures, and the still waters. What we want to gain is tranquility and rest to the mind.”
It sounds like Olmsted is referring to Psalm 23, where David tells us that the Lord is our shepherd who leads us to places of rest (green pastures, quiet waters).
He went on to write,
“It is one great purpose of the Park to supply to the hundreds of thousands of tired workers, who have no opportunity to spend their summers in the country, a specimen of God's handiwork that shall be to them, inexpensively, what a month or two in the White Mountains or the Adirondacks is, at great cost, to those in easier circumstances.”
Seeing how New York City has grown, with 1.6 million people in Manhattan (8.82 million in all five boroughs) it is clear how brilliant it was to create Central Park for the good of the people.
Life without a Central Park leads to Soul Fatigue.
It was Al Andrews who said,
“I find that many leaders are living life like a New Yorker without Central Park.”
Is your life feeling like a place where every square foot of your existence is covered with a building? Do you feel like every time you have an open place in your life, a building grows legs and plants itself there? Do you have any times and spaces where you can breathe, rest, receive from God and get refreshed?
So many of us have our lives so packed with activities, responsibilities, and commitments that we feel like there’s no way to ever create a Central Park. If that’s you, it might be time to bulldoze a few buildings to make space.
When we live without solitude and a place of rest for our soul, we lack clarity about our calling; it's more difficult to discern what is good and what is best, and we carry a deep fatigue.
Jesus knew that even He needed a Central Park.
When Jesus was trending up and everyone wanted His time and attention, He withdrew to quiet places to pray.
15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. - Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)
Jesus knew that He needed time alone with God to receive rest for His soul. Jesus built His own version of Central Park – sometimes rising early before the sun rose so He could enjoy the stillness and solitude.
It was in His time alone that Jesus was affirmed in His true identity. He kept crystal clear about His calling, never losing clarity of His purpose. It was in these times that Jesus received the strengthening He needed from God the Father.
Building a Central Park Makes Space for Jesus.
A Central Park in our lives is a place where we put Jesus back in the center of our lives, and we ground ourselves in His Word and in prayer.
It could be a place in your backyard, a chair by the fireplace, a favorite spot in the park, or a pleasant place where you park your car to sit in stillness and solitude.
It is a place where you can breathe in the good things of God and exhale the pollution of this world.
It’s a place of honesty and transparency before God. It’s a place where you confess your sins and receive forgiveness and unconditional love from God. This is a space where the worst of you bubbles up to the surface and you hand it all to Jesus to help you sort it out.
Do you have a Central Park in your life?
Is it time to bulldoze some "buildings" so you can make some space to be with God?
We have to be intentional about building a Central Park in our lives to keep Jesus at the center of who we are.
“A Change of place and a change of pace equals a change of perspective." - Mark Batterson
If you find yourself needing something in your life to change, and you’re not sure what’s missing… it’s probably the need for building a Central Park.
We will continue talking about the need to adopt the postures of silence and solitude as we continue this series I’ve named, “The Unforced Rhythms of Grace.”
Our Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Dome.
You can also live stream our 10:00 a.m. service on Facebook and YouTube.
If you missed last week's message Unforced Rhythms of Grace #5 - "The Posture of Silence and Solitude" click here.
Need encouragement? Text the word Encourage to 530.296.3689 to receive an encouraging scripture or quote from me several times a week that is sent right to your phone.
Leaders and potential leaders: you can text Lead to 530.296.3689 to receive a thought, quote, or a challenge from me several days a week regarding leadership.
