Category: Purpose

Vacation Trilogy:  Part 2, Beach Salt and Light

Salt and light.  That’s what vacationers hope for at the beach:  plenty of salty ocean air, the therapeutic salinity of the sea, and lots and lots of sunLIGHT!  All of these were delightfully plentiful on our recent vacation.

In Part 1, I shared that we have taken this same vacation for over 30 years.  Many other guests at our moderate motel, and even others who rent nearby beach homes, have also vacationed the same July week.  We have become beach friends for one week per year.  With only a couple of exceptions, I don’t have contact with these folks outside of beach week.  However, with years of sitting together oceanside, relationships have formed.  We know much about each other, seeing the families grow with children and grandchildren, marking the milestones such as graduations and weddings, witnessing sad losses in families, and being spectator to the occasional drama!

I notice how life’s going for our beachmates.  After a while, lifestyles and values surface.  Family dynamics emerge in the week of togetherness.  Priorities are evident.  Though my best beach week is to get lost in reading, reading, reading under my big beach umbrella, I try to step into conversations and time with friends who also have noticed quite a bit about me and my family over the decades.  It is never far from my mind that I am called to be salt and light to those around me, to the circle of acquaintances at our annual week at the beach.

Jesus said to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world. “ (Matthew 5:13-14) He expounded on the metaphors saying that salt should be salty, potent; that light should shine, be bright and visible.  Jesus warns that flavorless salt is useless and discarded; hidden light is ineffective.

Around East Coast beach towns, I often see a bumper sticker that just says, “SaltLife.”  It’s a statement about a coastal state of mind.  In the same stylized font, I’ve seen another bumper sticker that mixes it up a bit saying, “Be Salty.”   Under “Be Salty” are the words of Mark 9:50: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”  Again, this is Jesus’ charge to His followers, and to us who follow Jesus still.

Vacation Trilogy: Part 1, Beach Worship

For over three decades, we’ve vacationed at the same spot on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  We visit with many of the same people and repeat favorite annual activities, yet each year is unique.  For only the second time, my husband and I went alone on this year’s vacation: no kids, other relatives or friends joined us this time.

 

For quite a few years, my husband has attended Beach Worship early on our first morning, Sunday.  I haven’t tagged along, preferring to visit with those who were staying with us.  But solo this year, I decided to attend church on the beach with him!  He managed a couple of chairs, and we biked the easy mile down the road.

 

About two dozen folks were gathered on the open public beach.  The church team was in place, greeting us, handing out song sheets, testing the sound system.  The service began with a brass quintet playing a hymn anthem.  What a joyful sound drifting over the ocean, almost better than the praise bands of contemporary services!  My husband commented that this was new and a big improvement from canned music of previous years.  The beach-going congregation then sang two songs, led haltingly by an amateur volunteer.  Finally, the pastor delivered his brief message which seemed prepared and Scripturally sound.  The service ended with a brass postlude, and we were on our way before the sun became scorching.

 

My husband and I have attended many flourishing churches and heard many great preachers.  Comparatively, Beach Worship in Kitty Hawk, NC is tiny and simple.  One wonders, what is its impact and purpose?  The explanation is that God has called a man and others to do His Work, and they have faithfully responded to God’s challenge.

 

God is like that, challenging us with opportunities that may defy reason.  Is God calling you to fully believe Jesus Christ, or to obey His designs for your life, or to serve and minister as you’re gifted?  Listen for His call; take the chance on answering.  Luke 16:10

 

This blog, “The Writer’s Daughter,” is now five years old and I will say more about that soon.  Starting the blog and putting my writing out there was a response to God’s prodding in my life.  It is simple and small, and one wonders at its purpose and impact, but I took the chance on answering the call.

 

They say “timing is everything”.

Fifteen years ago, a director at my church asked me to mentor a group of younger mothers. I had never led or taught adults before.  I had misgivings and some scheduling conflicts, but I prayerfully agreed to become a group leader.

My group first met in September 2001. Our nation, and particularly the DC area, was reeling from the airplane terrorist attacks.  In that group of 5 or 6 ladies, one was the wife of a pilot, one was a military wife, one was a flight attendant and my hostess’s husband was in the State Department, specializing in the Middle East!  What a group at what a time!

God is faithful. He bonded us together.  Initially, I looked at those cute gals in the prime of their adult lives and felt dowdy and middle-aged.  After a time, I became thankful for what I learned from them and for their friendship.  The director’s confidence and wisdom kept the mentor groups going strong.  She selected great curriculum and fostered wonderful community among the leaders.

My own mothers group flourished for quite a few years. Since then I have received graduation and wedding announcements from some of those families.  Several of them continue to attend my church.  A couples group formed that still meets.  I am aware of no divorces from among them!

When Queen Esther risked her life in the court of the Persian Empire in order to save her Jewish people, her uncle made a famous statement. He said, “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)  What opportunity has God put in YOUR PATH for THIS TIME?

Divergent. Not the young adult book series and movie but the story of two men. In a weekend, one of them had a party and the other one was featured on a TV crime show. There were similarities.  Both men marched to the beat of a different drum, were unconventional, even awkward.  But the outcomes of their lives couldn’t have been more divergent.

The one man chose a path of helping others, meeting needs, counseling, listening, visiting, praying, often ministering where there was illness or death. And when hundreds from his congregation gathered to celebrate his work and retirement, men and women shared through tears stories of this man’s friendship and caring. His unique and naïve ways were transformed to bless others.

The other man was called a “gentle giant” and a “loner”.   He worked too but working inside of him was a dark, bitter and violent response to his world.  Over his young adult years, he brutally attacked two victims who survived and he took the lives of at least two young college women.  His crimes were eventually found out and he is spending his life in prison.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  (John 10:10) The pastor enjoyed a full life because he surrendered his limitations (and we all have them) to God.  The other man’s life was stolen by evil as he succumbed to the worst of his nature.  We all have to make the choice:  the full life through Jesus or destruction.