阅读经文 

去年春天，Chanell坐在RCM旁边一块空地的木凳上。数年前，在一个支持我们事工的承包商的协助下，那片荒置的地方被清理干净、铺上有养分的土壤、又撒了草籽，那片土地就变成了一块位于RCM停车场和另一间闲置房屋中间的一片绿地。

Chanell坐在RCM基督少年军（Cadets）造的木凳上，在树荫下注视着那些长满鲜花和菜蔬的社区种植园圃。那里安置的喂鸟器又引来了金翅雀和其他一些飞鸟。有一天早上我走近Chanell问她：“你为什么每天都到这里来？”

她微笑着回答：“我喜欢看见花草生长、雀鸟飞来觅食。我经历过很多——被虐待、被家暴、成瘾症，所有你能想到的，我都经历过了。我坐在这里，可以领受神赐我的一刻平安，直至我能再次面对这个破碎的世界。”

在以利亚的年代，有旱灾和饥荒，那时以色列的领袖和百姓都背叛神，于是以利亚来到基立溪旁等候重新得力。Chanell则是坐在社区花园的木凳上。在这些地方，神赐安全、保障和灵魂的复苏。

我们每一个人都需要一条基立溪或者花园木凳。你的安息在哪里呢？

Last spring Chanell sat on a bench in the vacant lot adjacent to the Roseland Christian Ministries parking lot. A few years ago, with the help of a supporting contractor, that vacant lot was excavated. Good topsoil was brought in. Grass seed was planted, and that lot has become a beautiful stretch of green between an abandoned building and our parking lot.

Chanell was sitting on a bench made by the Roseland Cadets boys club. She sat in the shade, staring at the community garden boxes, in which flowers and vegetables grow in abundance. A bird feeder invites goldfinches and other birds in. One morning I walked over to her and asked, "What are you doing out here every day?"

She smiled and said, "I like to see the flowers growing, watch the birds come and eat. I've been through so much—abuse, domestic violence, addiction. You name it, I've lived it. I sit here and receive my little peace from God until I'm able to face the world again."

In a time of drought and famine, when the leaders and people of Israel had rebelled against God, Elijah went to the Kerith Ravine. Chanell sits on a bench at a community garden. In places like those, God provides safety, security, and a restoring of the soul.

We all need a Kerith Ravine. Where is yours?