Living on  “The Coast” we can never get far from the sea.  It lulls us to sleep at night,  with its quiet rolling waves as they make landfall.  It warns us of an approaching storm - roaring and booming so that strangers  often ask where the train  goes during  the  night.  The sea changes the shape of our beaches on a regular basis. It provides wood for our fires, stones for our gardens, challenge for our surfers and fishermen.

 It sometimes takes  - without ever giving back .

I spend a lot of time wandering the beach sometimes on a mission to collect stones or driftwood for various projects. Other times, just looking at the beauty God has given us.  It is never the same; high tide, low tide, spring, summer, winter storm or calm.  The one thing that is constant as I wander the beach is knowing God is with me, inspiring me, guiding me, giving me hope for better days. 

Depending on how you look at the beach, you get answers to what you are seeking.  If you focus on only the sand, you limit the light that comes in so your understanding of what is going on around you is  limited.  If you look at one object too closely, you can be swallowed by the surf and lose the view completely. Chased up the sand until you no longer remember just why you were looking so closely.

 If you stand back on the ridge, you can see to the horizon and see the beach for all its splendour. It gives balance, colour and texture to the view.  Life is reflected in the views of the beach.  When we look too closely at one aspect of life we often miss what wonderful views God is providing us to comfort, heal, strengthen or even challenge us.

Janet Webster