Seeing all the pictures this summer of friends at the beach with their families has made me long for a beach trip of my own. Some of our best memories with our kids are the times that we have spent with them on the beach and in the ocean. The very first time we took our kids, our son didn’t care for the sand and our daughter wanted nothing to do with the ocean. Thankfully, we found something they both could agree on. They loved washing off at the pool!
A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of visiting a beach like no other. A group of ladies from our church traveled to Greece to provide a women’s retreat for the missionaries working in that part of the world. I know it doesn’t sound like a tough mission trip but I promise that it was more like camping than the beach trip you may be picturing in your mind.
While there, I had the opportunity to walk out on the beach across the street from where we were staying. The beach there was not like the sandy beaches of Florida that I have experienced on our summer trips. The beach surrounding the Aegean Sea was covered in rocks.
These rocks were beautiful to look at and were smooth to the touch from many years of natural sanding by other rocks and the sea. As I was seated on that beach halfway across the world in a quiet time of prayer, I looked around at all the dark colored rocks in colors ranging from light to dark gray and black. And in the midst of all the dark rocks, I noticed a beautiful white one.
That white rock completely stood out and shined among the dark rocks. I love that white rock which might have made the trip back with me. Although, I have since heard that action might be illegal. Oops.
The reason I love that rock is because it reminded me of my journey with Christ. I am sure that I appeared to Him as a dark, rough rock with all the sin and disobedience in my life. But because of his love, He saved me. He washed me until I was as white as that rock.
Through life experiences and the Lord’s graceful guidance and sometimes discipline, He continues to shape me, to smooth out my roughness. To hopefully, overtime make me look more and more like him.
When we turn our lives over to Christ and acknowledge our sin, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us just like the ocean water cleans the rocks.
We are each called to be a light in this world. A white rock among the dark ones. I pray that we never overlook the saving power of His love and forgiveness. That we are always listening for His voice to guide us through the rough patches of life. And that along the way, we might be a light that leads others straight back to him.
Also, I pray that we might not be so envious of our friends enjoying time at the beach! I guess that last prayer may just be for me.
