By the Sea
While in Greece, God showed me all kinds of things that this blog simply does not have the room for ... nor do you have the patience for! However, let it be said that all sorts of "things" are running around in my head.
One illustration kind of sums up the rumblings in my head. Let me just tell my story.
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The pool at the resort where we stayed was just beautiful. The first day we checked in I sat poolside enjoying the blue waters and gorgeous views. The second day we were there, I found out about a second pool - a saltwater pool. Somewhere along the third day a friend told me about the beach. Apparently, the resort had its own private beach ... open to the Aegean Sea!
As I come home and I reflect about my week, I kinda see my life as a modern day parable to the pools and beach at the resort. I was so happy to discover the first pool. The water was warm. There were plenty of places to sit and drink in the sun. It was clean. It was pretty. I was content.
When I happened upon the saltwater pool I was taken by the warmth, the buoyancy, the novelty of all that lovely saltwater in a ceramic bathtub like setting.
However, as I made my way down to the beach, taking in the vastness of the Aegean Sea ... and watching the sun set for the first time against the backdrop of the salty sea water ... I was speechless. It was there all the time. I would have been content to sit poolside never knowing that just a few steps more and an entire sea awaited me.
As I wade through this season of my life, embracing whatever it holds for me, I don't want to be content sitting poolside when an entire Sea awaits me. If it's pain, I want to let the pain do it's work in me so I might experience all God intends for me. Can I be honest? Pain hurts. Right now I'm stirring up the courage to read a book by Dr. Paul Brand called "The Gift of Pain". I'm no stranger to pain. If you've lived in this world for more than a minute, neither are you! In fact, your life starts off with pain. Let's face it, the slap on the butt by the doctor just continues throughout your life time. Somehow, however, we've turned pain into something to be avoided. Now, don't hear me wrong. I'm not advocating we all jump on the pain bandwagon and throw a party. Boo. If I'm honest, I hate pain. But, as I walk through some personal pain, I'm finding it compels me to ignore who I think I am and am not and trust who God is ... and is not. Pain seeks truth.
If it's joy, I want to let the joy do it's work in me so I might know ... really know ... what it means to be called a child of God. I've got a 8 year old who teaches me the intense satisfaction of finding joy in all things, especially if they come wrapped in a plastic wrapper and covered in chocolate! However, why shouldn't the little things in life ... that bring us joy ... cause us to take a deep breath and exhale in the awe that God himself, creator of our "joy" radar, provided that just for us?
If it's wonder, let me wonder on and on about the great vastness of a Savior that desires more and more of me as I become less and less. I stood in wonder at the beach as I heard the waves rush in and envelope my ankles in sea water. I wondered at how the water knew its place, because it had a boundary. I wondered how a Creator could be so intimately acquainted with all my ways and love in spite of them! I felt small ... and it was OK.
Coming out of a week that refocused and re energized me to seek the One who knows me ... my heart ... my hurts ... my joys ... my wonders ... I'm finding myself more and more content sitting at the beach. I don't know what the future holds ... and frankly it doesn't matter. In a world that tries to figure out life, package it all up and sell it to the highest bidder, I'm content just to wait.
Sticking my toes in salt water and waiting for the sun to set,
Christina
1 comments
Beautiful!! LOVE! Thank you.
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