Oceans & Puddles
Today marks the last day of an unexpectedly long vacation. It began a few days early as my body called for rest before my life was ready to sit in it. One of the blessings of this long vacation was waking up without an alarm or agenda for the day. This blessing has been especially sweet on two of these days.
Coastlines
The first of these days was spent walking on the beach. Making footprints in sand, my face warmed by sunshine in a way only a winter day at the ocean can do. As my footsteps moved closer to the tidal pools separating me from the ocean’s edge, water rippled through the sand. The wet sand compacting into a firm surface to walk through the pools.
Sunbeams danced on the ocean, creating ripples of movement drawing my eyes to the horizon ahead. The line where the things of earth fade away into the perfect beauty of heaven. A bird flew overhead, reminding me the path God sent me on this year was good, simply because it was His and His alone.
The glistening water brought light to moments of nourishment in this last year. Nourishment in time spent around tables with friends, in comfort of having more than enough for each different day, and in things that made life slower and better. Through these beams, my heart was filled and soul fed.
Light shines on these celebrations and reflects out. a reminder that even in this easy, today is today and heaven is better.
Flood Plains
The second of these days was spent sitting on my porch, overlooking a wooded flood plain. After days of rain, this was the first sunlit morning of the week. Images of trees bounced off a pool of rainwater sitting on top of the ground. Bark and branches patiently waiting for the ground below to dry. Their roots longing for space to breathe.
The rain filled puddle brought light to tears of lament poured out in this last year. Lament for lost time with people, lost comforts of rhythm filled days, and lost things that brought security. Life overflowed beyond capacity and longed to breathe. Through these tears, my loss was felt and hardships were released.
Light shines on these struggles and reflects out. a reminder that even in this hard, today is today and heaven is better.
Gifts in Light
Only in God’s Light can the gifts in our oceans surface, filled with promises already here and promises yet to come. Only in His Light can the gifts in our puddles emerge, filled with dreams unattained and dreams never imagined.
The gifts of deeper relationships, new rhythms, and the security resting in a bigger King.
