God in the Yard: Karen's Journey, Part 1

Published on September 04, 2010 by IAM

L.L. Barkat's latest book, God in the Yard: Spiritual Practice for the Rest of Us, is an invitation to rediscover a healthy rhythm of life. The book is meant to encourage spiritual formation largely through re-engagement with nature and solitude. But what about those people who live in urban settings, where they literally do not have a "yard" to speak of, and often live with roommates? IAM has invited two urban dwellers in New York City to go through God in the Yard and report back on how it might look to take Barkat's principles and apply them in an urban context: Karen Lacy, a professional dancer with a background in literature, lives in Queens, and Meaghan Ritchey, IAM's Administrative Coordinator with a background in philosophy, lives in the Bronx. Both will be guest blogging here.

God in the Yard: Karen's Journey, Part 1
 

Recently a dear friend of mine proposed reading through L.L.Barkat’s book God in the Yard, with the idea of sharing thoughts among a few friends along the way. We haven’t managed to read it together, but my friend gave it to me and asked for my own reflections. After reading just one chapter, I realized that Barkat’s words would give me more than enough opportunities to reflect and delight in the journey: the journey of reading, of writing, of creativity, of faith. Interestingly, before starting to read the book, I kept remembering the title as God on the Road- even the other day, the title came to me that way. Which isn’t so far off because the book is indeed Barkat’s sharing of her journey through one year and an invitation to join her, a “...discovery and playing towards God, through spiritual practice,” as she puts it in her intro.

Immediately, I was drawn in because I am a women who loves to play. And play is indeed the invitation that Barkat puts forth in this chapter as she encourages her readers to find a special space in nature to retreat to every day, to “collude with the Divine” and discover, well- who knows what?! Here are some subsequent quotes from Barkat’s first chapter “Woods: invitation”:

“...it’s no fun to live with the pain of pinching.”
“Smallness permits attention.”
“...the playful attitude of Wisdom...dodging God’s feet, chanting singsong, clapping hands...”
“...preparing the way for grace in the world.”

So many wonderful morsels of thought, I kept underlining and pausing, inclined to slowly move through the chapter lest I do disservice to the author’s intention (and my own). What does it look like to have a hallowed space “in the yard” of my life in New York City? I don’t have an actual yard as I live in an apartment building surrounded by cement sidewalks. But there are many “havens” in this city of millions and I’m quite sure I’ve only found a few. Honestly, I think that one of Barkat’s points is that it’s not always about going to a physical place (although that can nurture a lot of discovery), but rather a spiritual place “towards soul restoration.” Creative work. And play. That’s not always light-hearted (remember the battles we wage as children?) but takes us to new places and back again. I look forward to more God in the Yard, on the road, and beyond.

(Karen Lacy, Queens, NY)