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.

Gazebo

Gazebo


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 25, 2011

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

I try to visit the gazebo in today’s photograph as often as I can. This gazebo is on the sound and there is a peace and serenity felt there making it a wonderful place to reflect on life. Whether it is a visit during an early morning walk or if I stop by with my camera to catch a magnificent sunset, it is so relaxing that I often feel like it is a spiritual place at times. With nothing more than the squawk of an occasional gull, or the drone of a boat motor in the distance, the view from this little gazebo offers a glimpse of God’s natural beauty. I like taking a mental picture of the scenery for later recall. Sitting on the gazebo at the end of the wooden walkway is a perfect place to take some time for thinking about things. Important things, like are we on the right track? Are we in God’s Will? Would He be pleased with the way we are living our lives?

January is a good time to look forward to another year ahead. But sometimes I believe it is necessary to look back, too. For instance, if any relationship needs special attention, or if a friendship has been neglected, I like to start there. If there has been unforgiveness in any area of my life, I know it has to be dealt with and disposed of, or it can harm me, both physically and spiritually. When I was much younger, I thought that in order to forgive, I had to “feel” like doing it first. That “feeling” never came. I learned that forgiving is a decision, not a feeling. Even though we may have a right to our emotions and no one would argue that we have been wronged, we must make that choice to forgive. It won’t happen naturally on it’s own. I believe time does not heal, instead, it only makes it harder and more difficult to forgive, as the bitterness grows out of control. So much of our wellness stems from whether or not we carry unforgiveness in our heart. It weighs us down and becomes heavy. It affects our outlook, health, our relationships and it destroys our faith. Unforgiveness is not from God and if we are carrying it, we must give it over to Him right away and ask His forgiveness. We can ask Him to change our heart and to give us the strength to forgive. We can ask Him to carry the pain of the situation and to give us His peace in its place. God never fails us

Peace

Peace Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Glass January 19, 2011

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. –Matthew 7:7 NIV  When I set out to take photographs, it is just me and my camera with a lot of expectant hope. I will do some things to ensure that I could have a bit of success by choosing the right time of day to take photos, scout out a special location with interest and then search for the best light for the subject. Then the focus shifts to composition. I then think about how can take a photograph of something ordinary and make it extraordinary. Many times it works out that I am able to capture a simple moment with my lens so that it can last a lifetime in my portfolio. I feel a wonderful peace when I walk with nature and my camera in tow. God’s Presence is ever present in the beautiful surroundings, but the beach is my favorite. It amazes me the amount of peace that can be found if we are willing to receive it. A simple walk on the beach can turn a dull day into one not to be forgotten. I love everything about it like the smell of the salt air, wet driftwood and sparkling shells that are being bleached by the sunlight. Then there is the sound of the gentle wash of the wave onshore or seeing the occasional shorebird skirting the waters’ edge with its leggy stance. There are treasures to stuff pockets with and people to nod hello to. And those moments of standing sill searching for objects far away on the horizon and of course, walking and talking aloud to God. I have many memories stored in my heart of days just like this. There is beauty in each day. We miss it sometimes. Carrying a camera reminds me to stop long enough to focus on my beautiful surroundings and get a photo or two when I could have missed it altogether. God’s Peace is like that. It is there if we seek it, but how often do we set it aside day after day? Within His Peace is His unfailing, abundant Love. No one can love us like God does. His Peace and Love will sustain us in all times. Through God’s lens, He loves us like a Father loves his child. He comforts us and teaches us to make choices guided by His Peace. We are not ordinary. God made us to be extraordinary. He put greatness down on the inside of each of us. When a photographer builds his portfolio, only the perfect, special photos are included and those are considered the masterpieces of one’s work. In God’s eyes, we are all masterpieces because He made us. He is perfect. He doesn’t make any mistakes. We can do great things when we seek and follow Him and by activating the gifts He placed inside of us by faith.

Sentinel

Sentinel


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 12, 2011

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. - Proverbs 4:23

There are many sentinels protecting the Outer Banks. I am speaking of the beautiful, historic lighthouses that have stood guard over the barrier islands for many years. The dictionary defines a sentinel as “a person or thing that stands and watches”. And the lighthouses certainly do just that. They watch the land and the sea. Each lighthouse is individual and unique yet they are similar in shape. I have enjoyed visiting them all and taking photographs from different angels. They are truly historic treasures and have become tourist attractions over the years. The sight of light from a lighthouse in the night sky still thrills me today like it did was I was a young child. A sentinel is thought of as a guiding light but that doesn’t just apply to a lighthouse.

God watches over us like a sentinel, too. He guides us all the time and He is there through trials and hardships, too. His light shines on us to light the way, both night and day. A sentinel guards and guides. We can look to God to be that for us. But we too have a responsibility to guard our lives. As we follow Him, we are to guard ourselves with our thoughts and actions, keeping them of pure motive and godly at all times. What lies deep within us is what springs forth and becomes how we are defined. If we are full of stress, it will show. If we give in to anger or strife, it will flow out of us to another. It is so amazing to realize our physical hearts are so sensitive to emotions. Doctors have long said it is not the situation we find ourselves in, but how we handle it that matters.

What will matter this week? Guarding our thoughts, binding stress, filtering what we let in to our hearts and keeping His guiding light before us with each step we take. A good way to shine the light on this New Year is to let Him be our sentinel, our guide, our light in everything.

Turning Tide

Turning Tide


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 05, 2011





I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands. -Psalm 119:166 NIV

The turning tide is what comes to mind this time of year. The outgoing tide from last year takes with it the memories of the last 12 months and we await the incoming tide that brings new things. The last boxes from the Christmas decorations are packed up now and put away. The special cards and letters I have received throughout the year are tied with a pretty ribbon and put in a special floral box with other keepsakes. I have taken the time to look back and say thank you for the many blessings that helped to shape this last year. Gratefulness fills my heart as I think of all the good that came and even the difficult roads taken, which always had a lesson to learn. The tide turns, as a new year unfolds

What will the New Year bring? I think that whatever comes, we can handle it, and get through it if we are rooted and established in love. If love is at the heart of our decisions and motives, we will manage well. I think this year is the time to look forward with rising faith.

The incoming tide always brings with it some treasures and a few surprises. One time I saw a beach littered with small twigs of driftwood. Other times jelly fish would catch the tide to shore and rest at the waters edge. After storms, the ocean floor gets churned up to bring large shells to the beach. Our life is much like that incoming tide. Not sure what each day will bring but we remain hopeful that it will be more “treasure” than “trash”.

Do we have things that irritate us and cause us frustration? Oh yes, but remember that the oyster produces a beautiful pearl that was once a speck of sand that created irritation in the beginning. Rising faith is like a rising tide that can sweep over a multitude of things and with God, all things can be made new. The lyrics to a song we sang in church on Sunday were,”I will follow you forward”. In this New Year, let us follow Him forward with rising faith and hearts full of expectant hope to uncover the pearls waiting for us in 2011.