A few years ago, Hunny built 9ft walls (fences) at the north and south sides of our property. The impetus was a new kind of neighbor who has no resemblance to neighbors of the past. This new breed is largely addicts who create residential garbage dumps and mayhem.

Previously we had an empty lot on the north side of us, and on the south was a kind, elderly man who let his property grow naturally wild. He didn’t have manicured grass, but rather grasslands. He didn’t have roses, but wild cactus.

We enjoyed the wild, natural flavor of our rural foothills neighborhood. It was pleasant and quiet. With beautiful sunsets and enjoyable conversations.

Suddenly, everything changed. Our elderly friend passed away and the house was sold and a twenty-something young lady moved in. Enjoyable conversations became smoldering bonfires and loud music. Children of all ages ran through and around our property leaving behind crushed bushes and dropped toys. Trash swirled and sunsets were accompanied by a pink, fuzzy blanket hanging in the tree between our houses.

An old mobile home moved into the empty lot on the north side and though the occupant was an older lady, her chaos resembled the new neighbor to the south. But instead of children, she harbored an endless flow of loud vehicles and noisy, unruly visitors.

The north and south residents became friends and created a path for children, dogs, and people to traverse back and forth across our front yard.

I sank to the floor and cried. I also prayed. Not only for these new neighbors but for the children. And I prayed that I would find love in my heart for this unfolding tragedy.

In desperation to assuage my broken heart, Hunny hired help and began building a wall along the north side and the south. It was 9 feet tall. Made of pine posts and live edge slabs, it creates the impression of fort walls.

Finally, the intrusion, the trash, and the vision stopped desecrating my soul and peace began to reign once again. But I felt a niggling feeling of guilt. I’d never had to build walls before.

A few years have gone by and the smoldering bonfires and loud music have stopped. Our neighbor’s visitors are much fewer and farther between. Familiar black and white vehicles became daily visitors on each side of us, not by my request but rather as a natural course. Each neighbor has even taken a stab at corralling the overflow of trash. Not successfully, exactly.

The fence walls became my blessing.

Today I learned more about the tragedy of our nation’s southern borders, but interestingly I also learned about Poland and Hungary. These two countries in Eastern Europe embraced walls wholeheartedly and as a result, are also blessed. Their countries don’t have terrorist attacks, illegal immigrants, or a trashy addicts problem.

Also today, I thought about the wall the Jews built around Jerusalem in the Old Testament. Apparently, walls are extremely important for Peace and a satisfied life. I had never considered them much before my own needful encounter.

Blessings of Peace and satisfaction for you and your family. And blessings on whatever walls or fences you may have found necessary.

Faith