I am sitting by the ocean at a restaurant called The Crow's Nest. Since it is mid-afternoon in the late Autumn season, I am the only customer at the restaurant. So, I am enjoying dining outside, listening to the waves, and writing in my journal. And, the chicken quesadillas are delicious!
To say that I am savoring these moments would not even begin to tell the story. While this special day at the beach is a birthday gift that I gave to myself, I am very aware that every day is a precious gift from God.
It is such fun to watch people. Since I am here in the month of November, the beach is not crowded. The majority of the beach population on this day consists of senior adults and their dogs.
As I walked on the beach this morning, I met an older couple from Canada. While they were an interesting pair, the family member who caught my attention and completely fascinated me was their dog. "Marigold" is an 11 year-old golden retriever who seems to live a fearless life. When a ball is tossed into the ocean, Marigold sprints after it with abandon, jumping the waves until she retrieves the prize. She pursues that prize with courage and uninhibited joy.
I observed that Marigold would sometimes lose sight of the ball. When that happened, her owner would make an effort to get closer and talk to her as he tried to give guidance about the location of the prize. Because of the sounds of the crashing waves, Marigold could not hear her owner's voice. When she briefly came out of the turbulent waters, she was able to hear the direction from her master, enabling her to get back on track in her pursuit of the prize.
Oh, how true that is of our lives! When we are in the midst of the turbulent seas and the crashing waves of life, it can be difficult to hear our Master's voice. He is trying to give us direction and guidance. But, until we take time to remove ourselves from the distractions and the noise, we can't hear His voice. While our Master has the power to quiet those crashing waves, He sometimes chooses not to do that. Maybe He wants us to take a step toward Him so that we can hear His voice.
I learned that Marigold's body was designed for the purpose of retrieving. God has also designed me for a purpose. At this time in my life, I am not sure
what is being tossed out into the waves before me. But, I am confident that God will equip me with exactly what I need. And, like Marigold, I want to go after that prize with courage and joy!
"I wanna live with a fearless heart;
Courage that's coming from trust in God.
It's constantly guiding me, though the road may seem dark;
I wanna live, wanna live with a fearless heart."
(Fearless Heart by Point of Grace)
Philippians 3:14 - I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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