Dolphins

Dolphins

Photography by Meridith Glass

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. –Ephesians 2:8-9

Last Sunday afternoon we took a boat ride. It was a nice retreat to leave the cares of the world behind and focus on the clouds, blue sky and sparkling water.  We saw the pelicans perched on islands nearby and the occasional seagull that circled over top of us to see if we are offering food. But the joy of the day was when three dolphins played in the boat’s wake. We were so delighted and amazed at the same time. I have never witnessed this before. The playfulness in and out of the waves is called porpoising. Their shiny gray bodies were so limber. Some leaped high and others surfaced for air just for a split second to return underwater.  Graceful and elegant. These creatures are beautiful and I love their gentleness and spunk.

Our dedication to faith can often resemble porpoising. Going in and out of faith like the dolphins play in and out of the waves. When things are good, we sail high, above the clouds and may forget that it is God’s strength that keeps us afloat. When things go bad, we can’t get on our knees fast enough to pray for help and an immediate solution.  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. -James 1:2-4 What I was reminded about on that boat ride was that there are times to be serious and times to play….but it is always time to be in faith. 

Quiet Time

Quiet Time

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! -Psalm 150:6

Make time for it. Schedule it on your calendar if you must. Walk the beach alone. Find a bench in the park. There are a number of things you can do to find quiet time. Why is it so important? It is a time to recharge and it is mentally healthy to clear your mind of all things unimportant. Busy schedules, commutes to work, radio and television blaring gives little time to just sitting still for a while in peaceful solitude. Embracing those quiet moments are a time of reflection and self-evaluation. A bit of peace and tranquility can go a long way in getting our attitudes in alignment with God. It is in those times of quiet that we can talk to God and He can talk to us. Maybe a scripture will come to mind or a solution will reveal itself for a problem that has been consuming us. Often times, my quietness is just praising and being grateful. My grandson loves to hear that he has done a good job. We all like to hear that. And so it is with God too. Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. Psalm 147:1 

Treasures

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
-Proverbs 2:1-6 NIV

Waves rolling in to the beach don’t come empty handed. Coming ashore, they bring shells, seaweed, driftwood and anything else that may be stirring up in the sea. We have come to count on the incoming tide to sprinkle the shore with little ocean treasures. Stuffing our pockets with shells of all sizes is a fun past time for beach goers of all ages. Every time I go to the beach, I always find something to bring home. These gifts of the sea find their way to my windowsills, jars and shelves, to bring our family a smile, and to  remind us of a most pleasant time at the beach.

Filling jars with varieties of shells is certainly a show of my ‘tangible’ treasures from the sea. But, there are many gifts we receive in life that we can’t hold and feel, yet our existence is incredibly enhanced because of them. One of them is wisdom. Wisdom is defined as ‘good sense, accumulated knowledge of life, knowing right from wrong, having good judgement and having an opinion widely held’. God has placed some wonderful people in my path over the years that have brought me great wisdom. Perhaps you feel the same way, too. I can’t seem to get enough of it. I would be most content to share an afternoon with someone who has wise knowledge and insight into the important things of life. Surprisingly though, wisdom doesn’t always come from the aged and mature, but the very young, too. It’s the clarity of mind, the simplicity and the love of God that can make a person of any age, wise to others. Wisdom and understanding go hand in hand. Nothing compares to it, not riches, wealth or possessions. The Bible is filled with it. It comes from God, but I do believe He speaks to us through people He puts in our life from time to time. I relish the days that I am in the presence of a wise person. Wise counsel and Christian compassion are given freely. Wisdom gives us new understanding and a better way to look at any situation we may face. We will be rewarded if we seek wisdom and apply it to our lives. We all need it but not everyone wants to receive it. The Bible tells us that wisdom is sweet to our soul. Proverbs 18 suggests that a fountain of wisdom is like a bubbling brook within us. A wise person always seeks understanding, instruction and knowledge. That way, they may pass it on. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 NIV