June 7, 2006

Shell Beach

"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits."

An ancient poster sporting those words hides somewhere in our attic, rolled tightly and awaiting a favored wall. There are times that I wish I could fit into the same cardboard tube and rest comfortably without any assignment except to "sit."

That certainly was not an option last week. Brenda and I spent the week pretending to be part of a California moving company hauling 30-years-worth of household goodies from Yosemite to the Pacific. As my father and I bounced along in the U-Haul truck I wished it were lettered with a giant "Two Men and a Truck," rather than a painted zebra identified as "the American Horse."

We loved the throwing and saving. We loved the packing. We loved the trip past cotton, almonds, oranges, lettuce, beans, peas, and cabbages. We even loved the unloading. But the unpacking? That tired us all.

Monday evening, with only a few boxes empty and broken down in the carport, we all agreed to go after it tomorrow, "as long as we don't push."

"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." Rest works best in times of purposeful inactivity.

So, before returning to Box Mountain, Brenda and I wandered off to the coast, to Shell Beach at the end of a tiny road where Uncle Warren promised we would find a vacant parking space. He was right, so we filled it, tightened our laces, and stumbled down the stairs to 20 miles of sand.

We walked...and talked...and walked...and were silent in God's cathedral.

Waves provided a backdrop melody. Gulls squawked like clarinets in the lips of 6th graders. A young couple kissed beneath a wall of white stone, oblivious to our gawking and copying. The sand squeaked beneath our steps, so we stopped, sat, and adored the calm.

Later (much later) we returned to the boxes, with new energy and ready laughter.

Often, Jesus would walk off into the hills, or away down the beach, where he would sit for hours...thinking...praying...resting...sitting. Preparing.

"Lord, teach us to sit."

Some great REST Scriptures:
Exodux 33:14 ..."I will go with you and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you...and you will find rest."
Psalm 23 "He restores my soul."

The new screensaver is available for download at http://homepage.mac.com/rduerksen/PhotoAlbum35.html

Dick Duerksen
Assistant Vice President
Mission Development
Florida Hospital