Recently the Lord has been showing me importance of fences in my life. I have to admit that as a Landscaper fences while necessary are not always seen as a friend. For landscapers, fences involve extra work because grass and weeds grows next to and in-between fences and can’t be cut with a standard mower. Although grass killers can be used in these spots most of my customers prefer that I use a weed-eater to trim these hard to reach areas, as to maintain a well manicured appearance. So dealing with a fence can usually be a pain.
Similarly, building a fence can become an even bigger pain. Have you ever watched the process of fence building? Honestly I don’t have the eye or patience for it. A friend build our side fence piece by piece stringing lines and using a plumb line at every step. Today the fence is still sturdy and looks straight as an arrow. Although it was very difficult and costly to construct, our family enjoys the privacy and containment it gives to our lives. (It also keeps us from having to look at the foot high grass, laundry that had been on the line since God knows when, and every type of debris known to man in my neighbor’s lawn!)
Fences are boundary markers allowing for physical enclosure of your property. Here in Orlando along the Interstates huge concrete walls have been constructed next to neighborhoods to provide sound barriers. Other barriers on our expressways can sometimes be a little scary looking but keep cars moving in one direction. Even a simple hedge between houses cam provide some measure of privacy
Each fence or barrier is established to block out what we don’t want to experience and contain/maintain our focus. Spiritually speaking, there are all sorts of things Satan throws in our paths daily to distract and frustrate us. Although we could never successfully block all of his annoying arrows, taking the time to erect spiritual fences in our lives can minimize their results much the same as a good set of armor. The limits you need to set for your life will not be the same as mine because Satan has a different plan of attack for me. The Holy Spirit can reveal specific hedges, barriers or boundary markers that can help you stay focused and not get knocked off track
On the other hand, maybe you have noticed that getting off track is not always a problem. Many times it can be a good thing. It depends upon who’s directing the distraction or frustration. Satan or God? To illustrate lets take the example of the narrow gate or the narrow path. In Matthew 7:13 and again in Luke 13:24 we find recordings of Jesus telling his disciples that wide is the gate that leads to destruction and narrow is the way that leads to life. It think of the wide path as being like an interstate where there are several traffic lanes and you can fly. Interestingly on this wide path there are usually few exits. Now consider a two lane road through any major city and look at how many opportunities you have for an exit or opportunity for a slight detour. Isn’t it funny that when you’re in the fast lane on an interstate there are no distractions or interruptions? (Except for the potential blue lights you may see in your rear view mirror!) How easy it is to ram through life at full speed butting any potential disturbances out of the way. After all, we have our agendas. Perhaps, God may be blocking entrances to the potential interstates in our lives that we perceive could take us to our destinations faster?
A few weeks ago, a gentleman stopped and asked me to cut his lawn. Being a younger man he had been cutting his grass himself but his wife had recently experienced a stroke and was in ICU. I agreed and reminded him that they would be in my prayers. During the weeks that followed I have tried to take a few minutes to speak with him each time we met and find out how his wife was progressing. Thankfully she is now home and becoming more stable. With extensive home therapy and care for his wife, the man still has me cutting his grass. The other day he told me that the strangest thing happened. He and his wife decided to go to church. The new church they had visited for the first time had a café type seating area outside for attendees to visit and have coffee together after the service. While he and his wife were discussing the Pastor’s message a woman approached his wife and told her that she too had experienced a stroke three years ago and couldn’t move her left arm either. “But as you can see,” the woman exclaimed, “my arm is perfectly fine today!” My customer said this had been such an encouragement to his wife and they planned to continue attending!
I guess the synopsis of what I’m trying to communicate is that focus is essential for forging ahead and meeting our goals. Fences while they can help us focus can sometimes block priceless opportunities. The Bible, Wise Counselors, and Mighty Counselor (Holy Spirit) can help us avoid frustration and remain effective. Perhaps Ann Landers said it best,’ Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.” I pray we all can continue to make the most of our opportunities
