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| My inspiring heartwarming class |
Just as the sun peeked over the Gulf waters in
Santa Rosa Beach, I arrived just after dawn before the humidity set in on a beautiful
spring morning.
It was breathtaking listening to the sounds of
the waves crashing as it became visible over the long deck before I stepped onto
the beach. It created an abundant feeling deep inside my gratitude.
I nodded my head when I passed fellow admirers
having a sense of knowing how lucky we are to witness God’s creation.
I have a tendency to walk with my head down,
admiring the white sand and secretly hoping to find a treasure from the waters;
a shell, a piece of driftwood, some beauty in the sand.
As much as I love walking on the Gulf shores, it
becomes a challenging workout when I’m walking on the abundant, deep white
sand.
Realizing my short walk turned into an
adventure, my disorientation unexpectedly checked itself in and I found myself
looking for my way home.
My GPS on my phone lost its bearings, as well,
instructing me to go around in circles so I found my way onto the nearby
highway, a great place to start.
Walking along the highway, I realize the phone
wasn’t picking up enough satellite to guide me to my destination. We both were
lost.
What were my options? I missed the chance to ask
a passing city truck on the beach and a gas station I ignored twice. Was I humble enough to still think I could go
alone and not ask for help? My greatest blessings have come from God. Have I
asked Him for even simple help in everyday situations? Lesson learned.
Surrender.
Admit I need help will be the first step. I
decided I’ll ask the first person that walked past me if I’m on the right
course. I was relieved when she assuredly said, “Yes, you’re going in the right
direction, it’s just ahead”.
Now that I’m trusting that I’m on the right
road, I immediately look down and see this perfectly, blue plastic child’s
puzzle piece all alone lying in front of me waiting to be picked up.
Ah, another piece of the puzzle! My intention on
My Midlife Adventure was to find the magic in every experience and
getting out of my comfort zone.
The road was taking me further when I looked
down to see a collection of broken shells in a little patch of grass. I
remembered when I was walking on the beach, I didn’t see many shells. This path
has been walked on by many people. Did anyone else down this path see this
unexpected treasure?
I picked up a few shells to remember this moment
in time and soon realize that they don’t belong in the grass and surely not in
my suitcase going home. Seeing how this is all playing out nicely for my
benefit, I realize that they belonged in their natural habitat, where they
started out, in the water on the beach where they were meant to live, where God
intended.
Now I can see how these turn of events was as an
opportunity to see a bigger picture.
As I look back when I set out this morning, my
intent was to walk the beach. A simple pleasure.
I’ve discovered how walking gives me an
opportunity to have conversations with God in nature, just Him and me clearing
away all the daily dilemmas in my everyday life.
When I lost my way, things started to turn
around when I accepted the fact that I was off track, needing help, then
praying for guidance from up above. Surrender.
This resulted in an empowering feeling of deep
affection that I was being taken care of from a loving source.
On my life journey, I realize the further away
from having God in my life, the more chaotic my life becomes. It’s that simple.
God works through people. Asking for help from
others, my life has less confusion and more serenity. Another reminder that I
was getting lost, not finding my way in my adventures because controlling the
outcome was not the ideal way of living my life with purpose.
Another piece of the puzzle solved.
I now see my enthusiasm is feeling refurbished
and how my life is feeling renewed once again. I see how wonderful life can be
when you surrender and trust the process.
Tomorrow I will return all the shells that I can
gather and bring them to the beach where they belong.
Living with gratitude when I can take a breath
and pause, seeing how God and others are working in my life.
It gives me energy to once again feel my purpose
and to witness the joy everywhere around me.
My
lasting impression was loading my car to leave and looking up to see the enchanting dark blue skies with twinkling stars saying goodbye. Having more
awareness of understanding the depths of how brilliant love is when I come into
the light.
