Heaven-Sent Part 4
October 30, 2025
Heaven-Sent Part 4
For me, our back porch is heaven-sent. It looks out over the backyard, shaded by tall oaks and a huge magnolia tree. On the porch is comfortable seating, and most important of all, a hummingbird feeder that draws tiny visitors throughout the day.
Why is this place heaven-sent for me? Because it is sacred space. Here I can lean back, breathe deeply, and take in the sky, the trees, the squirrels, and the many kinds of birds, including the bluebirds who nest in the little house we built for them. From here I can hear children playing nearby or watch the occasional walker make their way down the alley. And on this porch, I often drift into meditation, prayer, or sometimes sleep.
I feel the breeze moving through, or on still days, the gentle air stirred by the ceiling fan. I listen to the trickle of the fountain in the middle of our patio and breathe in the fragrance of flowers around me. In the evenings, the glow of a small reading lamp keeps me company, along with the little grill that has served many meals.
This porch has held me in every season of life. I have spent rainy days and nights here, sheltered while listening to the comforting patter of raindrops. It is a liminal space: half inside, half outside. It is a place that is both-and, never either-or. It welcomes it all. And I love it, year-round.
It is heaven-sent because it feeds my soul like no other place, and it is nearby. On this porch, I have written books, reflections, prayers, dreams, letters, and stories. I have grieved here, had many pleasant phone calls here, and I have celebrated here with dear friends and family. I have been still, laughed and cried here. Sometimes from the porch I am lucky enough to see signs and wonders— enough to convince me that heaven is much nearer than we think.
I believe each of us needs a little bit of heaven nearby.
Spiritual practice: Can you describe your sacred place? Why is it sacred for you?
Self-inquiry: Why might having a sacred place be important to your soul?
Prayer:
Dear God, For sacred space, I give You thanks. Amen.
