Last week we spent three days at the beach! I am thinking that when we get to heaven this place will be there (with a good road to get there and likely a convenient store nearby). The place we stayed was right on the beach, had air conditioning, and a front porch where I could spend hours. (I did!)
Since it is October, rainy season, we had the beach almost to ourselves, and we spent the days reading, walking on the beach, playing in the water, writing, talking with our friends, and for Stephen, researching Neem- if you do not know what this is, drop him a line and he will be glad to share.
The only drawback to this time was the tsunami evacuation that occurred one night due to a 7.4 earthquake near El Salvador. We quickly packed, loaded our stuff into the car and drove to the nearest town (30 minutes away) over bumpy roads with others who had been asked to evacuate. We were not that concerned since all of the employees of the place did not seem to be going anywhere, but you do not want to say, “I wish I had…” with a tsunami!
Before you start thinking that our life is a perpetual vacation, I have to add my spiritual musings so I can get the missionary qualification in this delightful situation. J I know some people think that missionaries need to live the life of drudgery, and some of us missionaries have a hard time sharing the enjoyable things we get to do for fear of what others’ think. In truth though, God spoke to me through two different things during our short time at the beach- crabs and waves! I will share the crabs this time and save the waves for the next blog.
The first morning I went out on the beach early in the morning with my camera- not sure what I would take pictures of, but sure that I would find something. As I started down the beach I saw the movement of crabs in all shapes and sizes scurry to their holes with the movement of my steps. They intrigued me so I sat down and waited in silence to see if they would come out so I could get a good close up. What I saw was that at a distance they would come up, scurry around doing the things that crabs do, but with the slightest movement they would run for the safety of their hole. It did not take much for “fear” to grip them and for them to seek the safety of the familiar. I thought about how easy it is for me to live like that- play it safe, and how even in stepping out into a move to Nicaragua, I still would rather live in the safety of the comfortable and familiar.
Later in the morning Stephen and I went out on rocks that jutted out into the ocean, where at low tide you could see tide pools and be closer to the waves. Out there I saw hundreds of crabs scurrying along the rocks. The waves would come, but they would not run for a hole; they faced the waves. They had learned how to stay attached in the pulling and tugging of the waves. Somehow they seemed braver than their counterparts on the beach.
I want to be the rock crab- the one who figures out how to stay attached to God in the pulling and tugging of life. I want to be the one who does not always seek comfort, who does not always seek safety, and who learns to adapt to the world where God has placed me.
Friends, I am not doing so well with this right now. I could use your prayers! I am finding that it is one thing in my mind and words, but it is another in my actions.
Natalie – thank you again for sharing so openly and honestly. Your sharing honors God, I am sure. I can so relate to the adapting part. I wish for safety and comfort too, but God needs us to be obedient and to go deeper into His embrace. He is surely with you and for you. He sees you and knows what you need. Your life is hid with Christ in God and yet is not the ‘safe’ way. I pray he will continue to guide you through and reveal his purposes for you and Stephen. Love, Kathryn
Thank you for your words of encouragement!! It means a lot!
Great Photo! Praying for you!
Thank you, Christie! Great to “see” you yesterday!