Walking through the red asian-styled arched entry hints at the unusual things ahead. In this space we see a few features that seem familiar. Still, in some respect the beautiful Japanese Maples’ magnificent red, orange, and purple fall leaves seem more at home here than they do in a Publix parking lot because they are nestled within an intentionally cultured landscape. As we meander though this section of the Gardens the presence of the water features, the koi pond, large rocks, tiny crooked trees, and intentional spacing are designed to induce a sense of calm. But we can enjoy this scenery at our leisure and without any imposition of values. This place is not a threat and its exotic structures are simple curiosities. But what if a strange context were forced upon someone? In this light, there are persons and families who — for one reason or another — find themselves in foreign space with unusual features and imposed priorities. Such people are genuinely out of place and without the ability to change their situations. They no longer have the familiar comforts and places that were once important to their identities. The symbols they cherished seem far away and so they feel helpless, lost, and alone.

May God return those who are forcibly misplaced and grant them peace in the midst of strange surroundings.

Pray that God provides safe passage to a good home.

Pray that the citizens of these new spaces will extend kindness to new faces.

Pray that all people will overcome prejudice and accept others as those created in God’s image.

Pray for God’s protection upon the foreigner so that they will not be abused or victimized.

Pray that God will enable the wisdom to discern beauty and worth in foreign communities and spaces.

Continuing momentum: Read an article about a people group who have been recently displaced by war.

Filled with unique and sometimes unfamiliar beauty, plants in this greenhouse stand out from other plants in the Gardens by their shapes, vines, and thorns. Still, other than their sometimes bizarre form, they seem like the countless other plants scattered throughout Gardens. But their sometimes pointy or wide-leafed or viney beauty distracts us from an obvious fact about their existence — they live in a greenhouse… out of necessity. If they were planted somewhere else in the Gardens, the summer’s heat or the winter’s cold, or the spring’s rains might overwhelm their chances for a fruitful survival. In order to grow at their best, these plants need a tempering layer of protection from the outside elements that the other plants in the Gardens don’t need. You will see that the cacti, succulents, and tropical plants housed here are strangely beautiful and full of life. But this is due to the special care and space given them. They are tended to by responsible hands that understand the importance of custom attention and protection. If we translate these observations into a metaphor about people we can comment on the misfortune of many special people within our reach who need various forms of special notice and protection. Unfortunately, unlike these particular plants in this greenhouse, many unique souls go without the generous attention needed to promote a full and fruitful life.

Pray for those who need heaven’s protection. May heaven use human hands to extend its kindness to those who have special circumstances.

Pray for families who have been relocated and need help from surrounding hostilities.

Pray for the people who have particular emotional and physical needs and so need uniquely loving and patient hands caring for them.

Pray for those who live in settings that are harmful — that heaven sends people and places to be “greenhouses” for them.

Pray that God would give clear wisdom to those who offer themselves as shelters and barriers from things that can harm.

Continuing Momentum: Buy a small succulent or cactus plant to remind you to always be a safe space for those who have different physical and emotional circumstances.

In the summer months the Rose Gardens were overflowing with life, vivid colors, and beauty in its prime. In appearance, it was a showcase of natural splendor. But at this time of year these plants are only a fraction what they were in their prime flowering months. For them — in certain respects — their peak is well behind them. People still walk through to see them, but they do not have the amazing influence and allure they once had. At this time in their existence, they are more frequently overlooked and passed by easier. Likewise, there are people who, in some respects, are in a fading later season of life. As years go by, some important things in life fade to lesser glory and even disappear. Matters of health, mobility, and security become a challenge. Those who have passed life’s mid-point sometimes become less capable and more likely to be overlooked by family, neighbors, and government. They are frustrated and mourn when abilities and opportunities dissolve because although God has placed the hope of eternity in their hearts, he has also created them to enjoy things in this life which are hard to let go when a season ends. Many of these souls lack the financial or social resources to relieve the new realities that come with increased age. Many of our community’s elderly are alone and even sometimes become victims of devious schemes that take advantage of their lessened power and position.

Pray for those for whom the years have removed important things loved.

Pray that the elderly in your community have necessary medical care.

Pray that the elderly have resources for basic needs and travel.

Pray that family and neighbors will extend loving attention and protection.

Pray that they will find healthy activities that enliven their hearts and minds.

Pray that others around them will insist on encouragement and blessing.

Pray that God’s people will convince them of their value in heaven’s eyes.

Continuing momentum: call or email someone elderly to check in on them and extend heaven’s affection.

SEE:

• Animal with at least three colors

• Plant with berries

• Tree with bright red leaves

• Super skinny and super wide tree trunks

• Flowers with bees

• Tree with strange branches

• Plant with the most leaves gone

• Plant that you have seen at home before

• Plant with flowers bigger than its leaves

HEAR:

• Bird chirping

• Rustling leaves

• Water trickling

• Footsteps on pebbles

• Quietness

FEEL:

• Wind moving

• Coolness in shade

• Warmth in the sun

• Fuzzy leaf

• Smooth stone

• Rough bark

1. Find a nice, safe place to sit for a few minutes.

2. Close your eyes and take ten deeeeep, slow breaths.

3. Identify things you can hear while your eyes are closed.

4. With your eyes open, notice the largest thing you can see. Notice the smallest thing you can see.

5. Think about how you feel in your mind right now. Are you tired? Happy? Sad? Relaxed? Energetic?

6. Read the prompt below for the garden you are currently in.

Rose Garden: Think of someone you know who is older, maybe a grandparent or great-grandparent, who may not be able to see or hear as well as they used to. Think about how that might feel.

Conservatory: Think of students you know in school who seem different and how they might need special friendship.

Japanese Garden: Take a moment to remember a time when you were in a new place and those who helped you feel normal.