* I hope you enjoy this short narrative about the beach! I was doing a writing exercise one afternoon and this is what came out of it. ;)
I remember the ice-cold water slapping at my heels, the sea spray soaking through my capri-pants. Sand was stuck to everything: my feet, my toes, my calves, and my fingers, too. You can't help but pick it up whenever you come for your seashore adventures. There is so much to do. Building sandcastles or pine forests, walking in the surf, jogging up the coast, searching for buried treasures, adding to your sea-shell collection and so much more. An adventure waits around every corner. This place, this sweet spot where water meets land is like a reflection of our spiritual lives. We pray we're like the rocks, firmly grounded, and rooted in place despite the waves and billows spilling over us. Beware of trusting in your sand palaces. One rogue wave will wipe them away, leaving no trace of what was once there. Infinite loss makes its home here. Tragedy has seen these distant shores and met it early at a rocky graveyard. This place-this wide, wide body of water has seen its share of separation, coming between lovers and families, life and death. Yes, danger lurks here, too, taking on different forms. Waterspouts, hurricanes, tsunamis, icebergs half buried beneath the dark waters, and shark attacks amongst other things. This patch of earth is home to incredible wildlife. . . and creatures of a different sort. Creatures who have limbs, brains, open eyes, and pensive thoughts. These strange, earthy creatures walk these hallowed shores with a story emblazoned into their very makeup. Not all of their stories are alike. Some of them come here to vacation with family and friends. Others come to ponder life or contemplate the decision that is looming on their home-front. Still others come, seeking comfort, and trying to grasp a profound loss they've yet to start healing from. Artists come with sketchbooks, easels, and brushes to try and capture the magic, the atmosphere, and the beauty of this slice of heaven on earth. The ocean roars its welcome, inviting us to step into this paradise, this home away from home, and to breathe it in. It beckons us to soak in every sun-kissed, salty-aired moment of our time together. And ultimately, it reminds us to praise the One who made it--this meeting, this union of land and seas. The place we call: the beach! "The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land." Psalm 95:5 Were you able to get to the beach this summer? Good for you! Sadly, my family wasn't able to go to the shore this year. I've had beach fever, though, so writing this was good therapy and it almost made me feel as if I were there. :) For those of you who were able to go to the shore this summer, what was one highlight from your "seashore adventures?" Let me know in the comments! Writing update: Monday evening I typed the last words of the first draft of More Than A Tale. This one was a real challenge for me to write and I wrestled with the first half of the story, trying to figure out viewpoints and how to best tell the story through the characters' eyes. While writing this, no theme had been in my mind to weave through it, but as the story progressed, a theme did make itself known. It has to do with our individual stories--and Who is writing them. I'll be sharing the prologue with you in the coming weeks!
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AuthorHi! I'm Carolyn, a writer seeking to glorify God with my words. Archives
February 2024
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