Privacy Fence

The intended purpose of a privacy fence is to keep people from seeing what happens in your yard. But it also keeps us in.

Our fence blew down a few weeks ago in a Texas storm. Now, the vista from my back porch has opened up.  While the new expanse of backyard does not belong to me and is not my responsibility to mow, the walls of my backyard existence have moved to the back of the neighbor’s house.

While the fence is down we have gotten to know our back neighbors for the first time. Our kids have played with their girls. We made a connection when the fence came down.

In Acts 10, God blows down the privacy – purity fence of Peter. He shows Peter not to consider any person common or unclean. (Acts 10:28)  Because his vistas have opened up, Peter heeds an invitation by the Roman centurion Cornelius to tell him and all his Roman friends about Christ and God’s Kingdom.

We often put fences up to keep people who we think are unclean unworthy or unlike us at a distance. Yet, when God blows down those fences and inspires us to move past our fears, we discover   1.  that they have a craving to fill the imprint of God in their lives and 2. that God is at work in their lives already.

Where is God knocking down your privacy fences causing you to interact with people you did not expect to talk with?

Where does God want to open up your vistas and bless you with connections?

May Christ abide in your hearts. (Ephesians 3:17)