Seals & A Lesson Learned
I haven't blogged much lately but I've spent a lot of time "in class" with God at the beach. It seems like daily He is teaching me amazing things. I've been taking notes like a good student in my beach journal.
For the next few days I'd like to share a few of my logs from recent days. So in no particular order...
10.23.13 Entry
When I arrived this morning I spotted a scuba diver in the ocean. His head and shoulders bobbing above the waves as he made his way up the coast toward his launch point just north of me. As he drew nearer the shore I noticed two adult seals trailing him in the water. They watched him with guarded curiosity. Studying their oddly finned kinsman probably wondering what manner of seal this was. As he came ashore the seals lingered watching him intently, almost wistfully long after he had rinsed his fins and shed his gear. The diver's hoots of triumph told me they must have gotten quite close beneath the surface.
Before long another diver surfaced and began to make his way to shore. The seals seemed to want to block his path. His companion threw a stone or two to scatter then and soon they were both land bound. For a while the two seals and two divers stood watching one another, each from their domain. Then the men picked up their gear and began to make their way back to their vehicle. The seals remained until the men were gone from sight. And then they too went about their day.
I don't know what happened beneath the waves whether it was benign or confrontational. But I do know that mankind has a kinship with nature that can not be severed. For better or worse we are its custodians. And nature is our gift from God. Animals were the very first companions offered to man even before the companionship of humanity itself. The thrill of Adam meeting an elephant for the first time must have been as elating for him as meeting a pair of seals was for two young men in wetsuits.
God is Good. And all that He does is Good. Creation is lovely. When one creature draws nearer to another and recognizes the inherent wonder within, this sense of wonder is worship. For we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And all the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. To marvel and thrill at a gecko who comes within arm's reach, to swim with seals, to ride a horse, or watch a cat sleeping. All this is to exist in the truth of God's awesome power and goodness.
Gen: 1v31: And God saw everything that He had made and indeed it was very good.
10.17.13 Entry
Today I did something very foolish and dangerous. I could have caused serious harm to myself and others. But God by His grace and mercy stretched out His hand and shielded me. I was instantly convicted and also angered at the circumstances that led to it. I knew that it was my own impatience at those circumstances that caused the danger. I prayed on the way here, confessing my sin and thanking God for His mercy. But as I sat here I deepened my repentance by casting aside the excuses of circumstance that cheapened my first confession.
I hate that I am impatient when I know how important patience is to God. I prayed, "Lord teach me to act with patience even when I feel impatient. And help me to change so that I become more patient. I need you with me to correct me before I act out."
I heard just then in my spirit the Lord say gently, "My Spirit is ever with you."
And again I was convicted. For I recalled that a moment before my foolish act I had felt the tug of wisdom that said, "No. Wait. Do not do that." But I ignored it. And so I saw that God was indeed with me to correct me before my stumbling even as He preserved me from harm.
"So why is it that I do these things, Lord?" I asked. "Is it that I don't believe you?"
God answered tenderly, "No. It is because you do not VALUE Me. And you can not value what you do not know."
And I saw the utter truth in it. I do not value the Lord nearly enough. And the only reason for such negligence is ignorance. I think I know God simply because I have tried to draw nearer to Him than many others will even bother. But the truth is, if I do not value Him as I ought to, then He is practically a stranger to me. "Be still and know that I am God." A simple command. Eight words. And yet all wisdom, all virtue, all benefit and praise is contained therein.
Lord, teach me who you are. Help me to know You. To fear You. To value You above all things that I might obey You gladly and trust You wholeheartedly.
Amen.
For the next few days I'd like to share a few of my logs from recent days. So in no particular order...
10.23.13 Entry
When I arrived this morning I spotted a scuba diver in the ocean. His head and shoulders bobbing above the waves as he made his way up the coast toward his launch point just north of me. As he drew nearer the shore I noticed two adult seals trailing him in the water. They watched him with guarded curiosity. Studying their oddly finned kinsman probably wondering what manner of seal this was. As he came ashore the seals lingered watching him intently, almost wistfully long after he had rinsed his fins and shed his gear. The diver's hoots of triumph told me they must have gotten quite close beneath the surface.
Before long another diver surfaced and began to make his way to shore. The seals seemed to want to block his path. His companion threw a stone or two to scatter then and soon they were both land bound. For a while the two seals and two divers stood watching one another, each from their domain. Then the men picked up their gear and began to make their way back to their vehicle. The seals remained until the men were gone from sight. And then they too went about their day.
I don't know what happened beneath the waves whether it was benign or confrontational. But I do know that mankind has a kinship with nature that can not be severed. For better or worse we are its custodians. And nature is our gift from God. Animals were the very first companions offered to man even before the companionship of humanity itself. The thrill of Adam meeting an elephant for the first time must have been as elating for him as meeting a pair of seals was for two young men in wetsuits.
God is Good. And all that He does is Good. Creation is lovely. When one creature draws nearer to another and recognizes the inherent wonder within, this sense of wonder is worship. For we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And all the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. To marvel and thrill at a gecko who comes within arm's reach, to swim with seals, to ride a horse, or watch a cat sleeping. All this is to exist in the truth of God's awesome power and goodness.
Gen: 1v31: And God saw everything that He had made and indeed it was very good.
10.17.13 Entry
Today I did something very foolish and dangerous. I could have caused serious harm to myself and others. But God by His grace and mercy stretched out His hand and shielded me. I was instantly convicted and also angered at the circumstances that led to it. I knew that it was my own impatience at those circumstances that caused the danger. I prayed on the way here, confessing my sin and thanking God for His mercy. But as I sat here I deepened my repentance by casting aside the excuses of circumstance that cheapened my first confession.
I hate that I am impatient when I know how important patience is to God. I prayed, "Lord teach me to act with patience even when I feel impatient. And help me to change so that I become more patient. I need you with me to correct me before I act out."
I heard just then in my spirit the Lord say gently, "My Spirit is ever with you."
And again I was convicted. For I recalled that a moment before my foolish act I had felt the tug of wisdom that said, "No. Wait. Do not do that." But I ignored it. And so I saw that God was indeed with me to correct me before my stumbling even as He preserved me from harm.
"So why is it that I do these things, Lord?" I asked. "Is it that I don't believe you?"
God answered tenderly, "No. It is because you do not VALUE Me. And you can not value what you do not know."
And I saw the utter truth in it. I do not value the Lord nearly enough. And the only reason for such negligence is ignorance. I think I know God simply because I have tried to draw nearer to Him than many others will even bother. But the truth is, if I do not value Him as I ought to, then He is practically a stranger to me. "Be still and know that I am God." A simple command. Eight words. And yet all wisdom, all virtue, all benefit and praise is contained therein.
Lord, teach me who you are. Help me to know You. To fear You. To value You above all things that I might obey You gladly and trust You wholeheartedly.
Amen.
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