Soaking in God

Huntington Beach State Park

 "God called the dry ground “land,” 

and the gathered waters

 he called “seas.” 

And God saw that it was good." 

Genesis 1:10

For many years Elaine and I would spend 10 days in Acadia N.P. walking the carriage trails and climb some of the easier mountains. 

The Wonderland section for us is the most refreshing, spiritually renewing, aspect of our time.  At Wonderland we would sit on the rocks beside the ocean watching and listening to the breaking waves. Sometimes they would break gently other times they crashed ferociously. 

Recently we spent a weekend with family who live in Murrells Inlet, S.C  We visited Huntington Beach State Park, toured Atalaya Castle and had a glimpse the beach.

Before catching our flight home, we spent time at the park enjoying a light picnic and standing at the edge of a sandy beach. 

What a contrast between the rocky coast of Maine and the smooth sands of Huntington Beach! 

God's gift of contrast between the Lord's sky and sea can be a deep, soul renewing experience. 

God's gift of the difference between sitting on Maine's  rocks and South Carolina's sand provides a time to soak in God. 

These are experiences I call "Soaking in God".

Soaking in God happens, it seems to me, is possible at a beach or place where the dry ground meets the gathered waters. This is the place God said is good.

God is not limited to the sky and sea. Who can limit God?

This means Soaking in God may happen in a variety of ways. Perhaps in a time of meditation with inner quiet or a place of beauty. 

Soaking in God is your soul listening for the Lord saying, "Here I Am".

And God pronounces it good.

Pilgrimage to Wonderland

Wonderland, Acadia N.P.

"Now Jesus parents went to Jerusalem

 every year at the Feast of the Passover.

 And when he was twelve years old, 

they went up according to custom."

Luke 2:41-42 

The story of Jesus' parents making their annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem is a familiar story. Mary and Joseph are in Jerusalem for three days. It's time to leave. They travel a days journey only to discover Jesus isn't with them or any other family members. They return to Jerusalem to find him in the temple listening and commenting to the rabbis. 

Pilgrimages have similarities.

What strikes me about this pilgrimage is its similarity to any pilgrimage. The destination is a sacred or holy place. A pilgrimage may well have some confusion or disorientation. There may be an unexpected epiphany related to the sacred place.

Our Wonderland pilgrimage has those similarities.  

For us, the Wonderland section of Acadia N.P. is a sacred place where we experience God's presence. The beauty, the radiant sun, the rhythm of the waves are signs we are in God's presence. The two day Interstate journey is a stressful event in itself with road construction sometimes causing disorientation. Sometimes sitting on the rocks and "soaking in God" has led to insights.

Our lifetime pilgrimage, it seems to me, has similarities.

Our destination is being enfolded in the loving presence of God. Our journey along the way may be confusing as we observe or experience human interactions. Disorientation may occur in relocation as we move from one place to another or experience the unexpected.

The Good News of a pilgrimage says:

God was with Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to Jerusalem.

God was with Elaine and me.

God is with you on your lifetime pilgrimage. Whatever the unexpected events or confusion or stresses, God is with you.

Strengthened by the Lord

"Surely God is my help;

    the Lord is the one

 who sustains me."

Psalm 54:4

I don't know about you, but for me the pandemic has put a strain on my spiritual life. I keep up with my daily Bible study, devotional reading, centering prayer, and meditation.

Sunday worship is where there is strain.

Gathering in the church with people I know, having scripture read, prayers prayed, hymns sung, sharing communion, is diminished. Giving adequate thanks to the Lord in the sanctuary is diminished.

A diminished relationship to the Lord is one main consequence of not being able to sufficiently give thanks in God's sanctuary.

As I searched the scriptures, Psalm 54 spoke to my concern.

 

Psalm 54 is a prayer beginning as a plea to God for deliverance and vindication from arrogant foes and ruthless people making murderous threats.

The prayer expresses confidence that God is listening and will sustain his life and repay his enemies justly. 

The psalm ends with a prayer praising God for deliverance from every trouble because the name of the Lord is good.

God's Grace fills this psalm for me.

For me, God's Grace allows us to speak confidently knowing the Lord listens and hears deeply. This grace helps us to grow in our faith by realizing God has given us an inner strengthening spirit. This inner strengthening spirit assists us in coping with and interpreting diminished feelings wisely and accurately.

I recently read this: "First we pray. Then we wait."

As I lift my  prayer, I am confident the Lord hears and understands deeply and will strengthening me while I wait.

I am also confident the Lord hears, understands deeply, and strengthens each of us while we wait.