Mornings at the Ocean.
I am not a morning person.
Let’s just start with that.
But something changes when I’m at the beach.
I don’t know if it’s because my time there is limited and I want to soak it all in.
Or if it’s because the light angles in through the windows just right to wake me up.
However, I do know that when the sky begins its early morning glow, I wake up.
And I have a choice to make.
Toss and turn in the cozy bed.
Or watch the world come awake.
I opt to watch the world come awake.
But not in the place where we are staying.
Everyone still there is sleeping soundly.
Teenagers….husband….all still dreaming.
One of our favorite beaches since moving to Virginia is Carolina Beach, North Carolina. The way the waves break offers surfing (my family surfs small waves-I surf the itty bitty ones) and riding boogie boards (my personal favorite). It has a boardwalk. The town offers music, movies, fireworks, and more on different nights over the summer. There is a skate park. The people are friendly.
We’ve been a handful of times now and I try to rent a beachfront condo. I am not one of those people who plan a year in advance (or 6 months…probably not even 3 months) so we usually have limited options.
But I did find one that we rented for a week this summer.
Each morning I crawl out of bed and I walk down to the shore.
Pre-coffee (gasp!)!!
I feel the sand between my toes.
It’s soft, and my feet sink down as I walk.
I breathe in the air and can sometimes taste the salt on my lips.
The breeze is just enough to keep you cool, blowing my hair away from my neck.
I walk to where the sand becomes compact, hardened by the water that earlier had hidden its existence.
I look for seashells as I stroll along the water’s edge.
If I’m extra lucky, I may find a piece of sea glass which has had its jagged sides made smooth by the tossing and turning of its time in the ocean.
I feel like these are treasures left just for me to find as I walk and talk with God.
I pause to watch the sun begin to peer over the horizon.
Standing there, I let the water roll over my toes.
It races in and then it rolls back into the depths.
The water stretches farther than the eye can see.
I know that it has an end.
But it feels infinite.
On this morning, I roll the sea glass around my fingertips.
I think about the tossing and turning and the fighting of the waves that have crashed into my life over the years.
How they have molded me.
How they have worn down the rough edges.
And how they have made me a seeker of peace and contentment.
I smile at the dawning of a new day.
A chance to make better choices than the day before.
There is a chance to smile more and frown less.
And also a chance for laughter instead of tears.
I breathe it in and let it permeate my entire being.
And morning begins.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. – Ecclesiastes 3:11
Let your light shine!
Amy
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