The Tool Shed
by Phyllis

The summer of the completion of the chapel, Carole invited several close friends to spend the day with her. She had a surprise for us. 

She gave each one of us a little slip of paper with directions to . . . . . something.  (She wouldn’t tell us what!)  We should go, one at a time down a path into a little wooded area. Upon our return we were not to say a word to anyone else what the surprise was.

When my turn came and I began walking down the little path, I saw a comfortable looking white bench, I thought, “This must be it!” So I sat down to see what would happen next!  I noticed that the pine tree branches had been trimmed “just so” for the bench to fit and I thought that was a nice thing for Johnny to do.

I saw that there was a fern growing at the base of the pine tree directly across from me, and a tiny little cedar to the right of the bench.  Birds were coming and going, making their song.

And as always, when I visit Carole, it takes me back to the lazy summer days of my childhood when I would lie in the grass and listen to the sound of small-engine planes fly over, and imagine that the clouds formed shapes of real things. 

Just to the right of the path a few feet from the bench was a sand castle, home to a family of ants who were busy leading their lives.

Not far from the tiny cedar tree were two small mushrooms . . . the kind with a hole in the top that when you nudge it gently, little puffs of smoke come shooting out. (Made me wonder if we were wrong about how the Indians used to send smoke signals!) I certainly was seeing lots of interesting sights along the pathway!  

After making a mental note of all these things just in case there was a test, I moved on. I couldn’t help thinking what effort Carole and Johnny had gone to, clearing this path through the woods and keeping it mowed. 

How blessed Carole is, I thought, to have a husband who always lends support and sees to the outcome of her ideas. 

I was walking and thinking (not an easy task for me), when I saw it! . . . Johnny’s Tool Shed! He sure had it a long way from the house.  Not all that odd I suppose, since he had other out buildings way down in the woods on the other side of the house. 

As I approached, I could see . . . . . steps . . . hand rails . . . flowers . . . some kind of sign over the door . . . . . . And was that, stained glass?  This must be some kind of tool shed! I opened the door and straight away (having inherited a keen sense of observation from my mother), I thought to myself, “Hm-m-m, this is not your ordinary tool shed!” 

I walked inside. There were “tools” there all right, tools for cultivating, building, planting, and feeding . . . a quiet welcoming place to feed one’s soul…

I sat quietly there for a while as I examined the “tools”.  Apparently someone had gone to a lot of trouble to equip this “tool shed”.   It was attractive and very simple in an effort to not disturb the planning mood of those who are there.  

Why, there was even a fresh rose in a vase on a shelf that captured the colors of a sunrise!  It was so beautiful it caught my breath!   Out one of the windows you could see a very active bird feeder. 

I lit a candle and meditated quietly as I listened to the beautiful music Carole had prepared.  This was unlike any other tool shed I had ever been in!  

I left the Pathway Chapel with a very peaceful and quiet spirit; thinking again how fortunate I was to have a friend who would share her personal sanctuary with me. 

I came to one, very definite conclusion:  To be invited to a friend’s tool shed . . . is indeed a very special thing!

Phyllis