Gem Discovery

One of the things that can be challenging living in city of a few million people is that there are no green, wide open spaces.  I knew it would be a challenge.

I have many missionary friends and love looking at their pictures.  It keeps be somewhat connected to their lives and I can live their adventures with them.  Many live outside of a city somewhere and surrounded with beautiful, flowing greenness.  Some have yards with trees.  Can I admit this has been a bit of a struggle for me?  I don't want to be jealous of their surroundings.  But I admit, it's been hard not being jealous.  I'm happy for them, but my selfishness for the comfort of some resemblance of nature, creates in me a want for what they have. 

For weeks, I've been praying that God would give me a place of refuge in the midst of this city.  A place where there's some beauty of creation.  A place where the city noises seem to fade.  I can breathe, melt and be renewed.  

Yesterday morning, (since the church I was going to was in the evening) I went on a drive not too far from my apartment.  I knew there was some kind of park nearby and wanted to check it out.  

This was the bridge at was part of what I thought was the park and what actually was a board walk.  It was quite lovely and as I walked over it, I felt myself relaxing.  (I tried not to breath in too heavily since the water smelled.)  I sat for only a moment and decided to keep walking to see what it all looked like.

The view from the bridge

There were several small parks and sitting areas along the boardwalk. 

This ended up being a really good find and a blessing.  It's not necessarily wide open spaces, but it is definitely lovely and I'm thankful for it.  I believe God answered my prayer and helped me discover a gem in the midst of the city.