On a recent trip to the shore, I was reminded how much of life’s journey is reflected in the rhythmical cycles of the sea.
Some days bring the joy of riding swells like seasoned surfers, while others pound us into the seabed and crush us against the ragged edges of coral reefs.
Our lives are marked by lines formed between high tide and low; swells that lift us to unimaginable heights, troughs that leave us aimlessly adrift with no sense of direction or purpose, and rip currents that threaten to pull us under and out to sea.
When life throws us against the rocks, battered and bruised, it’s sometimes hard to pick ourselves up and continue the fight. Endings can seem like just that, instead of rich opportunities for new beginnings that leave us stronger for having survived them.
Occasionally, the greatest truths are found in the simplest forms; they speak to us through a selfless deed, a chance encounter, or a song. Life has a way of gifting us with what we need when we need it most, and are ready to hear the message.
And sometimes those simplest gifts can be the most meaningful, enduring, and profound.
Is there a song, message, or encounter that’s spoken to you recently and helped you through a difficult time? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section. God Bless!
Lately I’ve been finding messages (or “gifts” as I call them) at the most unexpected times. It could be a poem that reaches me deeply or a song that seems to put things in perspective. Sometimes it is the absence of another difficult thing that makes my day.
Been thinking about you and hoping you’re doing o.k.
Ah, the absence of difficult things. What joyous gifts those are as well!
And thank you for your thoughts. I’m hanging in and keeping the faith.
So grateful to come across your post first thing Monday morning. Your words are a joyful reminder and inspiration, Elaine, and oh, how I love this song.
As it is with so many others, music is an enormous inspiration in my life for its ability to frame a mood, change a moment, heal, soothe, inspire…And although I’ve never mastered an instrument and my singing ability is questionable, it doesn’t really hinder me from belting out my favorite tunes to the mountaintops, and if anyone could hear how perfectly I play the piano in my head they’d be mightily impressed
Music has been such a blessing in my life, too; this song in particular. Keep belting out those tunes & tickling the ivories! In my mind, I still rock the drum set I had for 2 weeks before my Mom said ENOUGH, I bought you an acoustic guitar!
Another beautiful one, Elaine. As you know (thanks for keeping up with my blog!) I’ve been having a tough time with a lot of health problems. It’s been a dark, dark time. I’ve been sustained by my 8-year old son. His enthusiasm for summer vacation–his sheer delight in the long, lazy days of NO SCHOOL keep me from flying down the mine shaft into loss and self-pity. My little orange tabby cat also helps me keep faith. I joke that other people have service dogs, but I have my very own service tabby. I also derive hope from the birds that come to the feeder I affixed to my bedroom window. (The service tabby is an indoor cat.) My son, my cat, and the little brown birds keep me connected to the here and now. They help ease my fears about my health. In their own ways, they get me out of my buzzing head.
Rebecca
There’s nothing quite like the long, lazy days of summer as seen through the eyes of a child. Your little orange service tabby and the birds that visit your feeder sound heaven-sent. Sending prayers for improving health & better days ahead. Hang in there, my friend!
Life is a cycle, to everything under heaven, there is a season. Thanks for the reminder, Elaine.
That it is. Ready for smoother surfing & less picking coral from my pores.
Thanks for dropping by!