Tag Archive | beaches

Faith in an Ocean

I’ve been in the fiction writing mode for the month of October, so I set aside my regular Tuesday and Friday posts for the month, but I’m back! Today’s 10-Minute Tuesday post prompt is “Ocean.”

IMG_1856I grew up in Oakland, Calif. The Pacific Ocean was always a part of my life. Our house had a view of the San Francisco Bay, but just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, on a clear day, we could just see the ocean.

Some of my favorite sites are the craggy shores of Northern California. I loved the tide pools and the jagged rocks. The ocean was a peaceful, powerful place to see.

Then I moved to Florida. Bleh. The beaches just didn’t have the same appeal. The waves still ebbed and flowed, but the water was way warmer and the landscape was much less dramatic.

I used to say that I was more a beach person than a mountain person, but I came to realize that it wasn’t the beach itself that drew me—here in Florida I get way too hot and sunburned and sandy—but it was the power and the peace of the waves. I like watching them and hearing them. I know of their danger, and I am fascinated by the creatures the oceans hold.102_1116

I don’t get to spend much time at the beach. We live about 45 minutes away from the nearest shore, but we just don’t make the trip out there very often. I miss it. I miss being able to look out my window and see the vastness in the distance.

There is a popular Christian song called “Oceans” by Hillsong United that I like, even if it is overplayed. The idea is that we can rely on God even if the oceans rise. These words soothe me:

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now.

Through every trial and hard season, God is there. My soul can rest in His embrace. He is my anchor. He won’t let go.

Rest in Him as you listen.

You’ve Got Style

I’m about to complete my 51st year on planet Earth, and I’m still trying to figure out my style, clothing-wise. When I picture myself in my head, what do I see? I don’t even know what I want others to see, let alone how I want to picture myself.

I’m a California beach girl–although I was raised in Northern Cal, where the beaches are actually rocky coasts. I love being barefoot, wearing jeans and T-shirts, being casual. Growing up, I loved playing baseball and volleyball. Had I continued competitively through high school and college, I probably wouldn’t be having such a hard time now trying to get into some sort of physical shape. (Well, I am in some sort of shape, but “pear” isn’t exactly what I was looking for.) I’ve been looking through the myriad sales fliers that have filled my mailbox since before Thanksgiving, trying to figure out how to update my wardrobe on my limited budget.

I’m not a cute little petite princess. I towered over all the boys in school, I wasn’t graceful, I can’t really dance, so flowing and girly was never a look I could achieve.

Sophisticated? Running with the up and comers? Artsy? Confident?

The writer-me wants to fit in the Greenwich Village crowd. Not exactly the grunge look, but kind of wrinkled and slouchy.

The young-me wants to fit in with all the 20-somethings by which I’m surrounded lately. But this 50+ body is certainly not gong to pull off their thin-as-rails looks.

The teacher-me wants to be sophisticated and confident. But as soon as I get home from school, I put on my jeans or shorts–depending on the weather.

I’m not exactly LL Bean, but I’m not Ann Taylor either. House Beautiful? That’s a joke. Horse Illustrated? I wish. I live in the ‘burbs, surrounded by houses that are just like mine. Boring, boring, boring.

Ah, but on the inside is laughter, conflict, dog hair everywhere, bird song, baseballs, kid art, books, a constant mess, and a whole lot of love.

I guess that’s what I want my style to be: lived in and well loved.

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it” (Colossians 3:12-14 The Message.)

Thankful today for
659. A weekend still ahead
670. A smart husband
671. Good ideas
672. Clever friends
673. My beautiful mess
674. Deals
675. Variety
676. My Christmas village
677. Gifts