The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too. ~Teresa of Avila
As I was looking out the window this morning watching the rain fall and mentally scrounging for something blog-worthy to share, my mind kept traveling backwards over the last year. Life as I knew it came to a screeching halt last July when my dear hubby had his first heart attack. I had recently left my job of six years with the plan of pursuing a change of career. In April hubby had a second heart attack followed by my mom (who lives with me) having a stroke ten days later. My new career (it seems) is home health care. My days are now full of pill bottles, doctors appointments, & making edible food for people that can't eat salt, sugar, or red meat. Just when I think I have nothing else to give the Lord quietly reminds me - I'll be with you.
My questions has changed from "Why" to "Who". God, who do you want to be for me right now that you couldn't be any other time? When I have needed strength - Heavenly Father has grabbed my hands and held me up. When I have needed calmness - He has been the Peace in the middle of the storm. When I start worrying about the future - He reminds me that He is already there waiting for me with open arms. This last year has definitely put a dent in my beach combing but I am still picking up treasures to share.
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Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. - John Lennon
(originally posted July 2011)
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| Right before the storm taken on my iPhone |
The plan was throw a bathing suit on, grab a bottle of water, & my camera then head to the beach for a 6pm low tide. It's been a long month of July. First the hubbs was looking a little peaked. The VA emergency room decided to keep him in the hospital just because he had a little heart attack - go figure. I put 1,800 miles on my vehicle driving back & forth to the VA hospital which is 3 counties away for 9 days. Next, was a visit from my nephews (3 & 6) so their parents could cruise to Cozumel. GeeGee had not seen her grandsons in a year so it was decided to press on and not cancel. It was a wonderful visit full of Thomas the Train & Cars 2 videos, swimming in the pool, & trying to figure out what we could beg the kids to eat that wasn't covered in chocolate or shaped like a nugget. So, I am bolting out the door for some much needed beach time to re-calibrate myself.
It was looking a little stormy on my drive out across the causeway but I was in total denial. As I pulled into the parking lot I could hear & feel the rumble of thunder typical for a late afternoon July day in SWFL . Checking the weather app on my phone it showed a huge storm but it appeared to be moving over Manasota Key rather quickly. I decided to give it an hour and wait it out. The best sharks teeth are always after a storm so I grabbed a bottle of water from my cooler, reclined my seat back, & prepared to wait the storm out. I had a front row seat to view all the beach-goers (who were also in denial about the storm because they waited way too long to leave) skeedaddling off the beach dragging umbrellas, coolers, & wailing kids to the safety of their cars. A cool wind blew shell dust up from the parking lot in curling mini-tornadoes announcing the pounding rain that was right behind it. As I sat in my truck watching the beauty of a summer storm & listening to the deluge hammer some crazy techno-reggae beat on the roof of my truck I thought to myself "I couldn't have planned this".
Forty-five minutes later the parking lot is empty except for me & a few other cars. The rain is now just drizzling & the weather app shows all clear. I cross the parking lot to the beach which is now completely empty except for it's normal occupants of pelicans & gulls having a post-rain party over a school of bait fish. I immediately started looking for sharks teeth. The rain pounds the sand down and reveals some of the best sharks teeth on the surface of the sand. As I look up the beach I see not sharks teeth but a line of shells as far as the eye can see. Manasota Key gets some shells but hardly ever like this. My sharks tooth plan has just shifted to include shells. As I walked about a mile out & back my cargo shorts became droopy drawers under the weight of my shell-stuffed pockets. I hadn't planned for shells so I had not brought a bucket. My camera had been left behind as well so it's just another story I'll have to tell hoping folks don't think I'm exaggerating about my sharks tooth venture that mutated into a shelling bonanza.
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| I planned to collect sharks teeth but found shells as far as the eye could see instead. I went back the next day to take some pictures. |
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| The surf line is loaded with the shell gravel that contains the sharks teeth |
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| Chicoreus dilectus - lace murex (A. Adams, 1855) |
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| Top left are fossil bones of some kind. |
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| The storms always stirs things up & bring in the bigger teeth |
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| After the storm |
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| One plan you can count on - the sun will rise & set every day "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." Jeremiah 29:11 |
I sat here and took my time reading your post. You've had a trying year...one that has tested your faith and patience, I'm sure. But you are a strong person and you knew that you were only human, so you turned your troubles over to your Creator. That's all we can do and those that know that are so much better off. Hard times will come...there is no way around that. But we have to realize we can't do it on our own and trust a higher power. I'm glad you shared your photos and story....and a part of yourself to us all! Sweet hugs to my shell sistah!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful (and so is the photo of you). I suspect that this is how we know when we're on the right Path, by the blessings/treasures we find as we travel. And you have a good eye for those treasures.
ReplyDeletemy comment disappeared...maybe...anyway, i was thinking john could have made a quote just for you..."Life is what happens to you on the way to the beach."
ReplyDeletehugs,
becky
God put you in my life for a reason Karen. I feel like we are somehow connected - otherwise, how in the world did I find my way to your blog and get to meet the woman who I feel is my soul sister? I'm looking forward to spending another day on the beach with you. Thank you for pointing out the path on my new journey.
ReplyDeleteI can so relate to the first part of your post. When we go through such turbulent times we have to holy on tightly to God. Or perhaps more appropriately, he holds on tight to us and brings us through. You are a strong person if you can handle everything you've been through and God is right there with you. It seems he prepared you for what was to come as you had recently come to the end of one job. God bless and continue to keep you and give you strength as you care for your loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you can find comfort and refreshing through shell seeking and that you can share all of your lovely treasures with us.