Today I delivered some art down to St. Augustine and took Bear-6 and a friend to the beach. It happened to be the most glorious day for small shells that I have ever seen in Ponte Vedra. Usually we have the current pulling out and depositing south around Cocoa Beach? But today was different. Shell piles were everywhere.
I have never been one to find shark’s teeth, but then I guess I have been in the preschool mommy phase for so many years that I never had time to concentrate on shell hunting. Preschool moms know what I mean. That phase where you literally cannot take your eyes off of your child for even a moment, esp. at a crowded beach. You are holding them in the waves or sitting in the sand making drip castles, changing diapers, feeding, and a trip to the beach may not be relaxing, but it is rewarding. Its a wonderful season of being right there in the moment, and for us it was over 10 years. Now I am in a season where Bear has taught himself to swim exceptionally well, and he does not want me to be with him all the time. He and his buddy played in the waves and dug holes and boogie boarded for hours. I would glance their way every few moments or go retrieve them when the current dragged them too far up the shore, but for most of the time, I was a kid in a candy store with these shells. After my experience last month where I found 2 whole shark’s teeth, I realized the secret to hunting. I have to change my focus from the light colors, to the dark black colors.
It reminds me of my paintings. Sometimes I like to draw the subject, like florals and leaves, and first come in and paint the background – the negative space. That gives me a better frame to see my positive space, the subject. I shift focus to read between the lines.
I am just starting a bible study by Priscilla Shirer,called “Discerning the voice of God”. I was on the beach today, looking for teeth and shells, and thinking of the very few times that I heard God speak to me, or “felt” him speak, actually. Each of the few incidents in my life occurred at a time when I had shifted my focus in life from allowing the tangibles and the “reality” of life to control my thinking, and instead I intently focused beyond that on the spiritual and what God had to say about a matter.
“Now we have not received the spirit (that belongs to) the world, but the (Holy) spirit Who is from God, (given to us) that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts (of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly) bestowed on us by God.” I Cor. 2:12
Actually all of 6-15 is about the wisdom of God.
Although I have not always been at a point where I could hear God speak, those few times, it was so very obvious to me, and I knew it was Him. Well ,that is what happened to me today. I was thinking of how rarely I ever find litttle treasures on the beach. I mean, we never even usually see shells on the beach at all! But I sat on a towel, and drew closely in to focus (yes I have passed forty now and am in need of some cute reader glasses). I was thinking about the correlation of shifting my focus in these areas of my life, and so I guess I was actually praying to God to reveal to me some shark’s teeth. Actually just one. I just wanted a sign. So much of the beach has always been sacred to me and I just desired a little blessing as I embarked on this study and devoted more of my life to Him again. I was feeling spoiled and wondering if I am asking too much, with the beautiful day and the free time, and Bear finding a great buddy to get along with, and all of my normal blessings. I did not want to “test God”. But then they started popping out in front of me. I was becoming giddy and teary and must have looked like a loon sitting on my towel alone in the shell pile. But I just kept finding them. God was just so good, and I kept thinking “This is plenty God. I am good for the day.” And then He would give me another one. I could have stayed there all day. The shell piles went on forever and the tide was washing in. I thought it was over but then I realized that the water actually made the black teeth stand out even more! So I enjoyed them while I still could, and went home with two boys covered in sand, a sunburn with Bear’s hand imprint on my back(He applied my sunscreen), and my cup runnething over.
I am grateful today for the abundant blessings that God has in store for all of us everyday, when we shift our focus and concentrate on searching out the real truth of His voice and His will, among the “realities” of our life.
Tags: beach, boys, God speak, painting, shells, spirituality
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You know I had somewhat the same kind of experience. I kept asking my husband for a quail. I wanted a bird that would sing “Bob-white” every night in my backyard. I even prayed about it. I shouldn’t have been amazed but I was when I saw a Bob-White (quail) walk below my front window. My husband never brought me one but God did and the bird stayed around for a few days and then disappeared. I will never forget those couple of days. I was so appreciative! Realizing where the bird came from and who was listening to me was an awe-inspiring moment for me!
I love your stories so I look forward to reading more.
Carole