Integrated Relaxation

I had the privilege to be invited to a friend's home in Mississippi this weekend for a lunch with some folks from his church family. I've known Alan now for a few years but had never been to his house. What a tremendous experience it was.

After living there for over twenty-five years he was able to purchase the adjacent property to add to his lot and decided to design and build an integrated relaxation and fellowship pavilion.

You can see from the pictures that it is truly a remarkable and highly unique structure and what makes it most incredible is that Alan and his wife Kathy have committed it to their friends.


We live in a country of class envy fueled by the battling political warriors who attempt to convince the less fortunate that their plight has been sealed by the ones who could care less about their position. The foolishness of this caricature is of course not only anti-American, but comical since the ones trying to persuade them of such things are themselves socialistic Peter Pans who create sucklings in the name of 'looking out for your best interest'. I mention this because when I saw this great place that Alan has made, I saw the right use of affluence.

Don't get me wrong, he lives modestly but he has, through hard work and dedication created a good life for himself and the ability to stoke a brain child into a live reality. With a landscape architect education and a vivid imagination this piece of calm contains many great features including a full kitchen, a private creek/stream, and a stone fireplace.


There are several hammocks available as well as a nice wicker porch swing and a comfortable den setting by the fireplace and plenty of chair space with a mezzanine deck overlooking the running water and plush greenery. Many stone paths meander and weave through the trees in an ergonomic fashion that blends into the environment. This relaxation nook is accessible from the street with carefully designed walkways and a private double parking space which is fronted with an Asian-influenced border wall and the general scheme of the property is a handpicked blend of reminiscent Southwest, Mission style, and screened Japanese, vacationing on a Lloyd-Wright beachfront.

He has an open invitation for visitors and friends so that they may use the facility for warm fellowship, private meetings, sensitive discussions, and meditation as well as the occasional get together. What a fine example of using what God has blessed one with for not just self, but for the benefit of others.