"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it's always ourselves that we find in the sea."
I was three months old the first time I went to the beach. I don't remember it, but I've seen photos of my parents holding me, wrapped in a blanket, my grandfather's boat in the background.
Many of my early memories involve the beach or water. Fishing, chasing seagulls, hunting for a perfect shell. I recall that my brother and I seemed to get along in perfect harmony when we were at the beach. The sand, sun and water cast a spell over us and we temporarily forgot that we desired to make the other miserable in our everyday sibling rivalry. We got to make special trips to get ice cream. My mom even bought me blue (blue!!) nail polish one summer. I remember feeling so old and grown up.
So now, as an adult, when I go to the beach, I carry these memories with me. I may not chase the seagulls, but I enjoy just resting and absorbing the sound of the waves breaking on the sand. The vastness of the ocean reminds me how small I am and how large God is. I recall God's promise to Abraham in the Old Testament in Genesis 22:17, "I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore."
'Beach time' is definitely a time that I use to reset my internal compass and focus on areas of my life that I want to change or improve. The summer is a busy season and I'm looking forward to taking a break to recharge and think about the ways in which I plan to use my time.
Happy Memorial Day to all and many thanks to those brave men and women who have given their lives so that I can have the privilege of living in American today. If you know someone who has served or is actively serving, please take time to thank him or her over the weekend.
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