"I must try and cultivate an eye for life's mercies...
And life, while it has its ugly swamps, its vile weeds, and its sharp thorns,
has always its fair flowers to charm the eye with their beauty,
or to fill the air with their fragrance..."
Rev. John Flowers Serjeant, 1878

Tuesday

Glorious...

We did drive to the beach after church yesterday, but most of the afternoon was spent volunteering with church-sponsored games at a pumpkin festival a few blocks inland from the water. We had the most fun watching the little ones who, with much determination and perseverence, attempted the bean-bag toss and golf game that Emily and I were assigned to run.

It was a stunningly beautiful day. The temperature reached well into the 80's, but a cool front ushered in drier, less humid air that combined with the sea breeze to create the most delightful weather.

When the festival activities were over, we walked down to the beach but discovered it to be much too crowded for our liking. It was, afterall, a perfect beach day. With too many hours before sunset and no desire to join the crowds at water's edge, we headed off the island. Disappointed? A little, but Lord willing, we will have many more opportunities to do that frolicking in the sand we had anticipated.

We do still live in a bit of paradise, don't you think?

Even though record-breaking high's are forecast for what seems like forever, the mornings are still cool enough for an early walk, and the sunlight breaking through the fog and branches of the the tall pine trees, illuminating the foxtails...

and the dew-speckled spider webs and flowering clumps of moss....

...is just as glorious as the beach, I think.

That wasn't how I saw it at first, as I walked out into the cool morning air. Confusion and discouragement had been disturbing my sleep and occassionally my thoughts in recent days, and the misty fog that descended on Pollywog Creek seemed to match my melancholic mood.

"I could really use some encouragement this morning, Lord. And wisdom. And hope."

It was then that I noticed. The streaks of light that fog could not hold back, that overcame the darkness and illuminated the path. Glorious. And I knew at that moment that He had heard.

5 comments:

kaye said...

a glorious place indeed. love the spider web.

Violet said...

Glorious indeed!

Here are two verses of a hymn that I have been carrying around with me lately. May they encourage your heart.

"Be patient and await His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
And His discerning love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.

"God knows full well when times of gladness
Shall be the needful thing for thee.
When He has tried thy soul with sadness
And from all guile has found thee free,
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care." From "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee" by Georg Neumark

The Farmer's Wife said...

It seems that when I'm focused inward, on me, that it's cluttery, dusty and messy, but when I focus outward, on Creation, I find symmetry, order and peace. You've captured that serenity perfectly with the tree sentries and spider bejeweled web. (I just want to explore, in those trees!)

Allie said...

Glorious indeed, and you've captured it well. Whispering some prayers for you tonight dear one.

Decadent Housewife said...

Spider Web jewelery is the favourite here.