A Small Chapel in the Backyard
A quiet longing that gathers my heart toward prayer and peace
A quiet longing has been growing in me for some time. It rises most often in the early hours, when the house still rests in silence and the heart leans toward prayer. I keep sensing a gentle pull toward a small chapel in the backyard, a simple place shaped by wood, earth, and the hope of meeting God with an open heart.
This thought stays with me through the day. I imagine a little room set apart, a lamp glowing before an icon, the stillness holding the name of Christ without hurry. The longing feels steady, not rushed, as if it comes from a deeper place than my own planning. Something within me desires a shelter where prayer can breathe without distraction, where the soul can find a quiet corner to return to again and again.
I think of stepping inside such a chapel when the light fades in the evening, the peace that follows a few slow breaths, the warmth that comes when the mind settles and the heart calls upon the Lord. I imagine reading the Psalms there, letting the words soften the rough edges of the day. I imagine the comfort of the Mother of God, the strength of the saints, the gentle nearness of the Holy Spirit. Their presence feels close even now, and the thought of giving them a small home on my own ground fills me with a quiet joy.
Sometimes I wonder why this desire has grown so strong. It seems tied to repentance, to the wish for a steadier life before God. A small chapel would not solve anything by itself, but it might deepen the way I listen. It might help me remember the mercy shown in my weakness. It might gather my scattered thoughts and turn them again toward Christ.
The words of the Lord rest softly on my mind, “When you pray, go into your room”.
Matthew 6:6
This little space I hope to build feels like that room. Not grand, not distant, just a humble place where the heart can settle and learn patience. The desire itself has already begun to change me. It slows me down. It reminds me that holiness can grow quietly, even in the soil behind my own home.
If God allows it, this small chapel may stand as a sign of His peace. But even now, before a single board is placed, the longing has become a prayer that draws me closer to Him.
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