There's an interesting phenomenon that happens when people come to the Oregon Coast.
Most people love to rent ocean view rooms, gaze upon the beauty of our changing coastline; but very few actually venture down to slip their bare feet into the silken sand or to dip their naked toes into the Pacific ocean.
When I go to the beach, I literally go to the beach. It's as if I am drawn by some invisible magnet. I can't resist the pull of the ocean. It's almost as if I am compelled to go, to measure myself against the ocean's primordial greatness and to shout verse into the sea.
Once I actually get to the ocean's edge, I'm like some crazy little puppet on a string, jerking up and down the beach in rhythm with the crashing waves.
Few adults engage in this kind of activity. Those that do, have children with them.
Me?
I guess that I'm just a child at heart.
For the past few days, I've been alternately resting and playing at the beach and I've had ample opportunity to observe this phenomenon.
Doing so, has led me to wonder if most of us don't approach our relationship with God the same way most of us visit our nation's beaches.
That is to say, we visit with God from a distance.
Most of us seem content to gaze upon the portrait of God that is painted in scripture, or to let our pastors paint His Holy portrait with their words and sermons. Some of us are even willing to actually listen to the voice of God in our prayer lives....but very few of us seem willing to venture into the presence of the most high God and to experience first hand, the wildness, and dare I say, the ferocity of God's love.
Why are we so afraid?
...or is it sheer laziness that locks us in our seats where we observe from a distance rather than experience the glory of God, one on one, just God and ourselves?
Why do we settle for this second hand faith?
Why aren't we skipping and dancing in the ocean of God's holy love? Why aren't we laughing into the wind and building sandcastles with God?
I am struck that so many of us are content to view from afar what was meant to be lived....
I hope and pray that I never forget what it is to dance in the Pacific ocean. And when I've grown too old to tread safely over rock and sand to reach the ocean's edge, I pray that my children will carry me and I will once again dip my toes into the cold water and shout verse into the crashing waves.
My friends, do not be afraid.
Join me!
Dip your toes into God's holy love!
Let us shout verse into the sea together!
Join me!
Please?
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