Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Sea Glass in Winter


















Finding myself with the gift of several solitary and unscheduled hours on a warm winter morning that felt delightfully like spring, I knew that I had better not waste it!

With the sun in my eyes, I drove to my favorite place-the lake. Trudging through the knee deep snow, I was delighted to find patches of sand and rock exposed, the product of winter's melting. I was standing in the purity of white snow, looking out upon the peace of blue water, and was drawn to the muck of rocks and sand. Beauty all around, easy to delight in, yet I look for the beauty that can only be found in the dirt, for that's where the real treasure is. How often our Lord himself used the dirt, sand and rocks to teach us lessons about faith!

"But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground." John 8:6-8

Writing on the ground to prevent the throwing of stones, how strange...and how strange it is to be here on the beach in winter! The downtown buildings that seem to be rising in the morning mist are contrasted against ducks flying close to the water, wings vibrating as they skim the surface. Waves searching for shore beneath the ice and snow produce a thumping sound as they retreat to their original location in the deep. I am completely and utterly alone. It's just me and God at the lake.

I think of the blind man who could see after Jesus applied mud made with saliva, as my eyes are now focused on the pockets of sand and rock beneath my feet, searching for the glittering jewels that I covet. Like a child playing a game of I Spy or Where's Waldo, I am determined to find and pick out the colorful sea glass hidden among the dirt.

And I walk on water! How is it that just two months ago the very place I stand would have had me waist deep in the lake? But now, I am on top of those waves looking at the earth that has surfaced through force of wind and water, looking for God and finding Him here. I crouch low to gather my rewards.

Hidden beneath the snow, down low amid the muck of winter sand, sea glass waits patiently for the taking. I fill my pockets with bits of color to be placed into clear jar containers, and each time I look at the jars of sea glass on the window sill, my heart thrills a bit.

And I know that as I travel through this life filled with the work of money to be earned, groceries to be bought, meals to be cooked, house to be cleaned, children to be nurtured, I will continue to search for God...and find him in the most unexpected places-places of beauty, yes, but also places of grime and dirt. For God is everywhere, just waiting for me to find Him.

6 comments:

  1. I never have seen sea glass...how beautiful! Where does it come from?

    (Great post, BTW)

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  2. Thanks Theresa! I find my sea glass on the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. There's one beach in particular that seems to have a lot. It's just pieces of broken glass from bottles that have been tossed into the lake, maybe from boats or beach partiers-I don't know. But the water pushes the glass back and forth across the sand and rocks until the bits of broken glass are polished smooth. Searching for it is an addiction for me!

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  3. Sounds like this day was one of God's little gifts for you!

    How wonderful!

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  4. I loved the "And I walk on water!" Great post, Anne :) My niece and daughter are always searching for sea glass at the beach. When my daughter was little I used to lunge for her hands because she'd wave a piece of still sharp glass around and claim it was sea glass (lol).

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  5. This was a lovely post. I think that warm weather is coming our way - 46 degrees right now! Supposed to have a high of 55 today :-) Here's hoping. Your bottles of sea glass are beautiful, I'm inspired to start collecting and make my own bottle.

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  6. Seaglass prayer is so beautiful! I will use it for sevices while her ashes are scattered at sea
    Linda

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