“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” Psalm 23:5a

I first learned the lesson of the picnic when Robert and I were dating. We took a day trip to the beach and when we got hungry for lunch we began to explore our options. Between our sandy wet selves and our limited budget, we were stumped until Robert told me to just follow him…so I did. We walked to the convenience store and went in, got two frozen pizzas, popped them in the store microwave, got drinks, paid for it, and went outside and ate on the curb! Probably one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had, and we still laugh about it today.

Fast forward to our honeymoon in Colorado, and we picnicked on a mountain after riding horseback 2 hours, eating food the cowboys cooked in tin plates over an open fire! Amazing!

We settled into a tiny house, and began life together with 2 kids, lots of bills, major child support, and very little left over. However, our tiny 1,100 square foot house had a tiny screened in porch, and the first thing Robert got for it was a picnic table. That table took up the whole porch, but we didn’t care..it was a great place to eat, relax, and take a break from “routine”. It’s amazing how fine hotdogs and chips appear when you’re outside eating on paper plates! That table got a lot of use during the 15 yesrs we lived there.

We then went on the mission field and moved to Denver. Living in a tiny loft apartment on the third floor did not provide a lot of outdoor time, and though we were across the street from a beautiful park, our jobs were 45 minutes away, our hours were long, and ministry took up any remaining time. BUT! We worked across the street from each other, and the shop Robert worked at was directly behind a convenience store surrounded by grass and one tree, and a bagel shop connecting to that lot. We ate many many picnic lunches in the middle of all that…noise, cars, music, you name it..but we had great times just again stepping out of “routine” and being together.

Since moving back to Georgia we have intentionally had picnics every vacation, and occasionally on our screened-in side porch. We just got back from a mini-vacay, and picnicked at a scenic overlook in a state park..and again I marveled at how relaxing and refreshing it was. There is nothing better and I come away with a renewed appreciation for God’s creation, and for all His blessings to us!

So what’s the point of all this? Here it is, the lesson of the picnic: it is simple, easy, relaxing, and refreshes the heart and soul by taking a break from hectic lives and schedules. The pure joy of simple and quiet cannot be underestimated, and the need that we all have for those moments of refocusing and regrouping is often ignored. That is not how God planned it though. The second verse of the Psalm referenced above reveals that: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters.” Those are active verbs! He makes, He leads..all indicators that we are to take time out to refresh. And please notice the context of verse 5: “in the presence of my enemies”. Is it ever quiet, peaceful, or relaxing to be in the presence of our enemies in our own strength?? Of course not! But God has promised us this…that if we look to Him, take time in His Word in trust and faith, and worship Him in our trials, then HE is capable (where we are not) of preparing a table..a picnic!..in the middle of ALL of it..and restoring and refreshing our souls!

So! Are you in a trial? Facing enemies? Going under with stress? Look to Him, and enjoy a “picnic”..and see how much better you are able to stand and overcome in HIS power.