Today I visited a beautiful park off the pacific northwest. I love to hike on the beach! Of course it's easier than the steep trials of the mountains. But what I relish the most is the tranquility and serenity that you find here. Listening to the waves surge back and forth on the rocks and sand, the seagulls gliding overhead calling one to another, and the wind moving the tall reeds in the sand dunes behind you. I take in all the sites and sounds around me. I've been teaching my children that silence can be very educating in itself. Now they enjoy hiking silently at times and just listening to the world around them.
Today I began my hike on the beach. The beaches here in the northwest are not just sandy as they are back east. In fact, they are covered in beautiful pebbles and rocks of all colors and sizes. So I had to wear my hiking shoes today as I planned to hike a great distance on the beach. There was a magnificent bluff overlooking views of the Pacific and several small islands around the coastline. I was determined to hike up to this bluff and climb up on top to see the views that were hiding behind these islands and rocks. Awhile passed and I getting close to a small bluff, not the one I had intended on climbing and relaxing on top of. But as I struggled to climb over the boulders to get to the beach on the other side, I was very tempted to climb to the top of this small bluff and just picnic and rest there. My goal was still a pretty good distance, with even larger boulders to hurdle! I was encouraged to not give up, my senses telling me it would be really worth it to keep going and climb to the top of the enormous bluff. I had no idea what awaited me at the top, but I knew it would be great. I gave up my yearning to stop and settle and kept hiking further down the beach. The climb to the top of the bluff was a bit technical. I was awarded with amazing views once reaching the top. The top of this seemingly rocky outcrop was actually flat on top with soft grass and little daisies springing up all over. The sun was warm and shining on the perfect picnic spot.
I am reminded so clearly now that in this earthly vessel, we are so tempted to give up and quit when the trail gets rough. We don't want to deal with the emotions and the heartache of our trials. Too many questions unanswered and too much responsibility to undertake. We wish we could just shut the door and walk away. Sometimes to walk away and not feel anything would be such a blessing. Our flesh is so conscience of the circumstances and people around us, rather than the goal before us. We feel too weak and inadequate to continue. We feel someone ahead of us with more knowlegde and understanding can do it better. When in fact, God led you down this trail for a reason. Out of all the millions and billions of people in the world, he chose you to walk down this trail. Yes, it's scary, we have no idea what's ahead! Right now all we feel is pain, anxiety, heartbreak, and drowsiness. But this is our burden, it is what God has led us to. It is only when I read in His word the place He has prepared for us, that this is only for a time and then all things will become new, it is only through reading His promises that I can fix my heart, soul, and mind again on the goal He has set before me. I may not see so clearly the view in store, but I can only imagin it's going be greater than anything I could ever imagine!
