My high school, Lane Tech. (Go Lane!), was built in the shape of a giant, squared, capital A. The open space within the A had a garden where I often worked helping the botany teacher.

I suspect the 1930s school board questioned why so much ground was being wasted with this large, open space in the middle of the building, but it is one of the most interesting features. It provided light, air, and a picturesque view to the surrounding classrooms and offices. This was an emptiness that was really something.

There is a spiritual value to emptiness. Fr. Benoît Standaret writes: “Those who have learned to build emptiness into their time schedule or even into the space of their lives have discovered an inner treasure.”*

The Gospels tell of Jesus withdrawing to empty places to pray. I understand the spiritual need to get away from it all. A young mother I knew had to drive somewhere and sit in her car to pray because if she tried it in her bedroom with the doors closed, her little ones were knocking, demanding to know what she was doing.

It took some years for me to learn the importance of making an empty place for God in my life. Even harder is making physical space. I accumulate stuff. Much of it I don’t use–like the stack of Styrofoam I’m staring at right now–but I might need it. No I don’t. It’s just a distraction collecting dust.

Do you allow emptiness for God to fill in your life?

Read Matthew 6:5 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

*Spirituality: An Art of Living, p. 67