Day 1 – Port Aransas Vacation

Friendships Valued – I think one of God’s biggest blessings on his creation of mankind is friendship.  I wish I had the appreciation and value of friendship earlier in my life.  Society trains us to appreciate all the tangible things such as houses, car and credit cards.  The true lasting “things of value” such as friendship are not naturally appreciated.

Friendship is one of those intangibles that becomes more and more valuable over time.  Houses come and go.   Cars wear out and the body slows down, but the beauty of friendship only deepens.

It makes me think of all the different ways you can answer the question, “A true friend is someone who _____________”.

Day 2 – The Beach Scene

I grew up going to Port Aransas during all seasons.  This is one scene you will never see during the summer when school is out.  Notice there are no people.  Just you and the surf and a few stragglers pass by.

I don’t know exactly how the constant sound of the surf and no distractions work their refreshing on the body, soul and spirit, but sitting on the beach doing absolutely nothing for hours is incredibly rejuvenating.

The slow down and opportunity for refreshment comes slowly.  It is a process that can’t be rushed.  I think it has to do with letting the worries and hassles of life lessen in volume and eventually be drowned out with the increased volume of the surf’s white noise.  On the beach, there are no threats.  There is nothing pulling and tugging.  Just the sound of surf and a quiet reawakening of self.

The point where I begin to set myself aside and begin to experience God is my favorite spot in the vacation.  Have you ever noticed, it is difficult to easily “turn on” the presence of God.  I know it is easy to switch Him off, but the turning on is a process that takes time.

John H. and I have been reading the old testament.  I found my way through a number of books while on the beach.  In Habakuk, God speaks of His love for us while destroying the evil we worship.

The last chapter beautifully expresses His love and willingness to help us start over.  Isn’t that what life is all about.  Starting over.  Constantly dieing to selfish ambitions and allowing God to come alongside.  Being drawn to him, enjoying His presense and chasing after the adventure of life.

Day 3 – They Say a Hurricane is Coming

Take a look at this beach picture.  Is there anything about this scene that is threatening.  It is quiet, peaceful and waves just lazily rolling up the shoreline.  There is nothing that warns of an imminent danger approaching.  Yet, possible death awaits.

The weather channel says Hurricane Ike is approaching the Corpus Christie area, which includes Port Aransas.  The Hurricane is being billed as the mother of all hurricanes.  Yet if anything, it is even more calm on the beach than usual.  I’m imagining what it must have been like for the Haitians as Ike plowed across their island with no weather channel to warn them of imminent danger.

I am intrigued with the contrast between experiencing peace in the moment and hearing of impending sure danger off the coast.  I shot a picture of this sunflower on a beach dune.  Is there any expectation of a storm approaching?

No, just God’s beauty.  I think that is the way life is suppose to be.  We are to enjoy life in the moment with God’s presence felt and yet be aware of storms constantly brewing off the coast.  We don’t know where the storm will hit.  We just know it will.

Maybe it will hit me.  Maybe it will it you.  But one thing we know for sure, it will hit.  There is every reason, to want to draw close to safety in God’s presence.

Everyone is boarding up and preparing for the storm.  We know the storms of life are brewing.  Will we be prepared when the ”mother of all storms” hit?  Will we be faithful to the God who desires us to enjoy an abundant, fruitful life?

Note Archism: Abundance is God’s perfection of His will and purpose in ones life.

Day 4 – Retreat to Round Rock

So we packed everything up from the beach and said, “Good bye” to an awesome vacation house provided by friends from Round Rock.  As I write this, Cora comments that the house had 5 bathrooms.  Some things are worth taking note.  Especially, if you are the one cleaning.

Thank you friends for the opportunity to get away and enjoy experiences we could never afford.

Not willing to give up on vacation, we headed to Round Rock with expectations of weathering out the storm in safety.  Cora and Pam head for the pool.  Mark and I head for the camera store to check out latest gadgets.

You just have to love a public pool in your subdivision with no one in it.  The clouds are a friendly reminder of the hurricane brewing off the coast, but the weather is awesome and perfect for a day at the pool.

Everyone’s talk in Austin is, “do you think we will get rain out of the hurricane?”  It has really been dry.    The vacation move to Round Rock turns into a very relaxing time and the peace away from the storm takes hold.

Thank you, Jesus.

Day 5 – Trip to the Cementery

I’ve got a friend that thinks it profitable to spend time periodically at a cemetery.  He finds it inspirational, quiet and a perfect place to reflect undisturbed.  So oddly enough, I spent the morning of day 5’s vacation with a friend at the Texas State Cemetery.

Yes.  A trip to the cemetery does provide opportunity for reflection on one’s life.  There are many inspirational thoughts on the hundreds of grave markers.   Some said things like, “A good father” or “State Senator” or whatever was important to the survivor.

I considered what I might like written on my head stone.  I hope it might be something like, “He ran a good race” or “He fought a good fight”.  I’d even be ok with, “He never stopped trying”.  But you know, likely it will just say, “Known by his friends as, Sparky”.

 

 

It might even be just, “Sparky” if you have to pay by the letter?

I was most impressed with the few thousand grave stones of men who had fought in the Confederate Army.  What an incredibly sad time in American history.  I can’t imagine what it would be like to experience civil war where Americans are fighting and killing Americans. 

Yet the Word says, “All things work together for the good of those that love the Lord”.  Certainly, it was a blessing to all for God to provide freedom to those who were being kept in bondage.  In the midst of the birth of freedom, people were dieing.  Families were being ruined.  Fortunes were being lost.

It is amazing how God can turn any situation around and create something good for those that love Him.  The question, “What is Love?” demands an answer. 

Are you willing to be a casualty here on earth, to be part of the bigger picture of God’s love and grace in eternity?