Today was one of those rare late September cape days, where July comes back and sneaks in one more summer day. It was so full of things I was going to get done before my blog group meeting tonight. I was so full of things I could write about today, having read things and seen so many interesting things on the morning news. In yoga class my mind raced and I wrote at least three different blogs in my head before the floor series was over. As soon as class was over, I bolted out of the parking lot and headed to the local shopping center to quickly dispose of Monday morning errands. Came home and somewhere between lunch and the newspaper, I happened to look out the back door and realize what a gift, with winter just around the corner, today was.
All that needed to be done could wait. I grabbed my beach chair and bag, hung some music on my ears, and walked down to the beach. The blue of the water and sky, coupled with the warm sun and soft breeze, let me know without a doubt I made the right decision.
As I settled back in my chair and looked beyond my beach bag, there wasn’t another soul in sight. There’s something about creating a space in the middle of a busy day where it’s just you and the quiet world outside. Today, instead of people and news stories speaking to me, I stopped and listened to the sea and what it teaches. The tide was making it’s way out while I was there. The tide teaches me to stop and practice patience. There are things in this world that just can’t be rushed and manipulated. One of them is the tide. No mater what you do, it’s six hours to go out and another six to come back in. Such as it is with some things in life. The perfect job will materialize, the perfect mate will be met, the child will come home, broken hearts will be made new – but just like the tide, you can’t push or hurry it. God fashioned the tide times just like He fashioned our life times. Relax, take time in the beach chair, (your comfy armchair works just as well) and let God do His work in the hearts and minds of His people.
And so, as another day goes by, today wisdom lies in the view beyond my beach bag, and ….I have written.
If you wish to be the best man, you must suffer the bitterest of the bitter.