I must admit, it was nice to spend some time away from Mount Zion and Tucson with a recent trip to San Diego.  I went with my son Tony and I was able to spend time with him and my sister and her husband.  I also saw my mom and her husband on several occasions.  We caught a Padre’s game, got in a car accident, (Everyone was OK and my car is now in the shop.)  and we spent quite a bit of time roaming the beach areas.  All in all, it was a good time of rest and relaxation.

While in San Diego, I was able to spend time at several beaches.  Many memories of youth, family and friends washed over me.  I can sit at a beach and do nothing but watch the ocean for hours.  For me, the ocean is a source of renewal.  There are many places and many relationships in our lives that through the power of God have become instruments of renewal.  Our soul, our spirit, our mind while in the presence or company of such instruments,   come to find the core of who we are being placed back onto a path of life that leads us to wholeness and well being.  It’s these God given instruments of renewal that reveal to us that we have strayed, that we do need renewal and in that fact alone, through them, we begin to find that we are being restored back upon a Godly path

The ocean is one of God’s instruments of renewal for me because I spent so much time in the ocean.  I have learned many lessons of life from spending time in and with the ocean.  I spent my formative years swimming, fishing, riding its waves, getting knocked around by its waves, washed in, dragged out and being held under by the power and majesty of the ocean.  I have come to learn that I have no control over the ocean and when I step into it, I must give myself over to its ways and learn to act within its presence in such a way, that I can enjoy this awesome gift of God’s creation.  To sit by the ocean, and step into its realm is a very humbling experience for me. 

Sitting at the ocean reminds me of how insignificant I really am in the scope of the powers that be.  To recently spend time at the ocean was a vivid conviction that I had lost this most valuable perspective of life.  To walk in humbleness with and in our Lord is the most rewarding and beneficial way to journey in life.  When we stray from this truth, things tend to not go so well. May those humbling sources in your life be ever so effective and accepted.

For many, myself included, Scripture is a great Word of God to enter into and come to be humbled in its presence.  I have spend quite a bit of time in and with the company of scripture.  Recently, I was humbled through the psalmist who writes:

He [God] does not deal with us according to our sins

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who

fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far he removes our transgressions from us.

(Psalm 103:10-12  NRSV)

Talk about humbling?  How great is our God!!!

In Christ’s love and service, Pastor Dan                     Contact Pastor Dan at: pastor@mtzionelca.com