The Pelican

The Pelican

The Pelican
Reflections by the Sea - Betsy Ore Glass
February 23, 2011
Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Proverbs 3: 25-26

The Pelican is most graceful in flight but can be a little awkward on land. They are magnificent birds to watch as they circle around in large numbers in search of food. Flying high above the water, plunge diving in the sea from heights of up to 60 to 70 feet, the impact is cushioned by the air sacs just beneath their skin. With their pouch located under the bill, they are capable of holding large amounts of fish and water for quite some time. It is known that the Pelican requires up to 4 pounds of fish a day. The Pelican was once thought to be a threat to commercial fisherman because of their fish consumption but that is no longer the case today. Their diet consists of mullet, minnows and menhaden and other unimportant fish to the commercial fishing industry. The Brown Pelican is the species that mostly inhabits the Atlantic Coast. They normally nest on the ground or in the tops of trees. At one time they were on the endangered species list but fortunately there is an abundance of Pelicans now. Wouldn’t you agree that their presence, beauty and uniqueness adds to the Outer Banks landscape?

Watching Pelicans go about their daily activities leaves me with the impression that they are very confident. They know what they should do, they do it and they expect a positive result. Is confidence learned or taught? Maybe it is a combination of both. So many things are tied to confidence, like self-esteem, leadership and success. When we try something new, our confidence level may not be as high, but as we do it over and over again, we gain that feeling of accomplishment that translates into satisfaction. It’s important that we get this right because developing confidence and being aware of it, or the lack of it, can be at the core of so many decisions and outcomes in our life. Offering encouragement to chase a dream or realize a goal is something we can all do in our relationships. It is something we can do for ourselves. Positive self -talk will carry us far. Taking the first step to building confidence is to give our fears to God and to ask for His strength to flow through us. Knowing that God is by our side, what is it that we can do today that we were afraid to do yesterday?

Feeling Connected

Feeling Connected



Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
February 16, 2011

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Whenever I can I will brag on the Outer Banks to anyone who will listen. The memories of years’ past, the natural landscape, the terrific seafood, shorebirds, lighthouses, water and bridges and more. But it is a “feeling” that I get on the Outer Banks like no other place I have been. I feel such a strong connection. The emotion that envelopes me is the overwhelming sense of being home. Yes, many things are familiar still, even in the changes that are evident that comes with change. But it is the inner sense of peace I find. Everyone needs a sanctuary, a safe place to be and to renew themselves. The salt air washes away any worries and weariness and sunrises and sunsets remind that each day is a new beginning. We can meet each day full of hope and promise of what treasures are yet to be revealed on the Outer Banks. It is ever changing yet it remains the same. The surprise of a morning fog or a dusting of snow keeps the weather watchers on their toes. My favorite place to visit is the sand dunes on Pea Island. Recently, climbing to the top of the grassy dunes during a frigid winter gale gave me new appreciation for the strength of those Pea Island dunes. With numb fingers I snapped as many photos as I could before the sun faded in the western sky. But it was a serene, quiet moment….just me and the blowing sand as ripples formed in an artistic design that only nature could make.

One of His gifts to us has to be the Outer Banks! The combination of natural beauty with an overwhelming peacefulness one feels must be the work of God. Other people have said how much they find God’s Presence during walks on the beach, fishing at the pier, sailing the sound and so forth. It’s true that He is everywhere. This time of year the Outer Banks slows down during the winter season. What better time to reflect on His goodness and mercy than on a cold winter day with a warm heart of full of gratitude for all He is. He will meet us on top of a sand dune or at the end of a pier. He will walk beside us on the beach and listen while we talk. I believe He is calling us closer to Him. Take to Him all the fears, worries and problems that we carry like baggage. That is called surrendering. We are nothing without Him. Jesus walked in humility and so should we. He had a heart for helping others and putting their needs first over His. We should follow His lead. Each time I pick up the Bible I learn something new. God is always teaching us and through the Bible we can get to know Him and His ways. Take His hand and find a quiet place to be together. Connect with Him for the first time or if He has been placed to the side, renew the relationship. Sometimes hard hearts need to be softened and He can do it. Disappointments are too great to carry any longer. He wants to take our burdens. He can give us encouragement for that new thing we are doing and He can renew our strength to fight our battles. He is our Hope, the Bread of Life, our Light.

Love

Love


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
February 08, 2011

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1 NLT

There are so many things that I love about the Outer Banks. This season of winter is actually a beautiful time of year. There is a quiet solitude that envelopes the beach and its surroundings. Great peace and a time of reflection can be captured by a pier, a bench by the sound or from a seaside beach access. If there is a need to warm the soul, to be close to God, to feel His Peace and see the beauty He created, this is the place and the time of year to do it. The sky is so blue and often cloudless. The stars and moon at night sparkle with such clarity. Where else can one go and see dolphins feeding in the distance, seagulls flying overhead, waves rushing through a pier’s pilings and feel peace at the same time! God’s Love is present everywhere here. What a gift it is!

The Bible has much to say about love, but the two most important instructions are these from March 12:28-31 NIV which is “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

Perhaps today is the time to put the past aside and begin anew with Jesus’ instructions as our guide, to make each day one where love is given and love is received. I heard it said once that the beauty of life is while we cannot undo the past, we can learn from it and change. So that every new moment is spent not in regret or guilt, but in wisdom, understanding and love. The lyrics from an old hymn dated back to 1912 have been drifting in and out of my thoughts today. “Love lifted me…Love lifted me…When nothing else could help…Love lifted me.” God’s Love for us will lift us up and over our own problems and circumstances so that in turn we can be a blessing to others.

Reflection

Reflection


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
February 02, 2011

As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. –Proverbs 27:19 NIV

Everywhere on the Outer Banks one can find reflections. Like sand fences casting shadows in the sand, or seagulls looking down at their mirror image in the water. Boats docked at marina’s that reflect their bright colors and tall masts or even a window that holds the image of a lighthouse.

I find myself looking back to last year and reflecting on all the changes that have taken place in my own life. Followed then, by looking forward to a new season with hope and expectancy of good things. Perhaps you find yourself doing that, too. Charles Dickens once said that we should reflect on our present blessings of which every one has many, and not on our past misfortunes, of which everyone has some. That’s good advice and wise to focus on the present while being grateful for our blessings. If we put the past behind us and not be so anxious to live in the future, how can we reflect on where we are today, this very moment? Probably the most important thing that shapes our day is our daily interactions with people we live with, work with and come into contact with. It has been said that how we treat others is a reflection on us. Actually, to be more specific, it is a reflection on how we FEEL about ourselves. That is very revealing.

Do we dare to find out what others would say about how we treat them? Would we be brave enough to ask? Would we be surprised? Would we try to justify our behavior and make excuses? It takes an exceptionally wise person to discern that when they are treated poorly, it is not a reflection on them, but on the other person. In other words, what is on the inside of each of us is what spills out to others, like a bucket full of water being tossed back and forth. Our words, actions and attitudes reflect our heart. Psalm 51:10 talks about creating a pure heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 tells us to live in peace with one another. Do these scriptures reflect what is going in at the core of us? Hopefully our words, actions and attitudes are pleasing God and that we are a reflection of His Love to others and in all that we do.