During this pandemic it’s good to get out whenever you can. Find simple, safe ways to break up your routine. Today is a beautiful summer day, so I rode my bike to the beach. Riding gives me a different perspective than driving. The slower pace offers sensations easily missed when whizzing by in a car. At the beach the warm sand massaged my feet and a refreshing breeze tingled my skin. In the afternoon sun under a cheerful blue sky, pelicans dive bombed the sparkling ocean hunting for fish. People frolicked along the shore surfing, swimming, jumping waves, skimboarding, playing catch, and building castles. Further inland many others watched from the refuge of their colorful umbrellas or basked in the sun.
I took advantage of the low tide and waded out to a bank of rocks. As I observed the microcosm of marine life in the exposed tide pools, an exuberant boy ran up with a hat full of water. “I caught a crab!” he exclaimed. He eagerly showed me his prize. As I looked down a tiny, beady-eyed crustacean stared back at me in bewilderment. Then the boy’s little brother caught up and chimed in, “We caught a crab. We caught a crab.” I laughed and joined in their excitement by congratulating them. With the fabric hat quickly loosing its seawater, they rushed off to proudly show their father.
I strolled further down the beach. Conversations and laughter joined the lapping waves in a medley of joyful song. A young girl sunk her feet into the quicksand left by receding waves . Then she jumped up and down, splashing in the puddle and smiling at me. “I’m at the beach. I’m at the beach,” she happily declared. I returned her smile, gave two thumbs up, and replied, “Yeah!”
The enthusiasm of these children encouraged me. They awed and wondered at the simple pleasures of the beach. I can see why Jesus taught that in order to enter his kingdom you must change to be like a child (Matthew 18:1-5). Life in God’s kingdom requires a tender, receptive heart which includes meekness, humility, sincerity, trust, and teach-ability. I want to be open to wonder, to discover, and to be surprised. It’s one way to cultivate my soul to receive the truth of God’s character, as well as, the beauty and power of his work.
Life is made of relationships, choices, and moments. As God enables you, make the most of each of them. For instance, give people a chance instead of prejudging them, classifying them, or concluding that you have figured them all out. Whenever possible, make peace and offer kindness. Amidst the uncertainties of this pandemic, guard against being anxious, depressed, or burdened by your circumstances. Also, like I wrote in my last note (#115 Cut Loose), don’t prematurely close your mind to the truth or you will miss God’s best. Instead come to God as your father and let him work through circumstances and people to deliver you and develop you into a better son or daughter.
Moses and his sister, Miriam, did this after God parted the sea to deliver Israel and released the sea in judgment to drown the rebellious Egyptian army who pursued them. They prayed, “Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling” (Exodus 15:11-13). With that in mind pray, praise, study, trust, obey, befriend, and serve. In the process of doing so, seek to increase your discovery of God’s goodness and it will lead to a positive change in your mind and in your life (Psalm 34; Romans 2:4). You will be blessed to see anew the glory of God in his character, his purpose, his mission, his creation, and his people.
Then as an ambassador of reconciliation become a part of making God’s glory known. Declare and demonstrate how great and lovely God and his ways are, so others can experience knowing him also.