Going To The Beach

Ah, Friday, my day off, and a morning on which the alarm clock also takes a day of rest. As the new day dawns I can hear the traffic on yonder freeway as people head out to the office. But not me. Not today.

One of my favorite places to be is at the beach, where the sound of waves and wind restores my soul. So on days like today, with a little imagination, the smooth and steady sound of the traffic morphs into the calming swoosh of waves rolling into the shore. With eyes closed, I can be transported to an early morning beach where the sun has just fully peeked over the horizon and the waves have wiped the sand clear of all footprints, creating a clean canvas for new paths and adventures. For some folks, a mountaintop is…well... uhm, their mountaintop experience. For me, it’s the beach. And so on these quiet mornings, transported to that peaceful scene, I walk along the shore and visit with my Lord.

In Luke 6:12 we are told how Jesus would go up alone to a mountain to pray. We all need that time, time alone in the quiet peaceful presence of the Lord. A time to be still and know that He is God (Ps 46:10). We make time for all the busy-ness of our calendars, so why not make and keep an appointment on the mountain (or seashore, or East Texas woods) with Christ? A time to pour your heart out to Him; a time to sit together in quiet as you just breathe and take in the scenery; a time to patiently wait to hear what He has to say to you. Those moments were necessary for Jesus as He walked the earth, so how can they be any less important for us today?

Make time for that, because before you know it the real world will creep back…(Oops. Be right back. The phone’s ringing….) Now where was I? Oh yes,… that time is important because at some point you have to get back to doing all the …(Excuse me, someone’s at the door). Okay, I’m back…uhm, oh yes, … you have to get back to doing all those things that you need to do. So before the busy-ness of your day or your week begins, try spending time with Christ on your mountain of choice.

“I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.” -John Wesley

Philadelphia

My daughter is spending part of the week in Philadelphia this week, looking into a local Christian community there to see how they live out their faith. Philadelphia- the city of brotherly love. During her stay she has sent back additional information about what she’s done during her free time, which is taking historical tours of the city. I just love history and it is awe inspiring to see pictures of the vast array of places where people gave their all so we could be free.

“Philadelphia”- what a fitting word for a city where love of country and freedom was strong enough that people chose to band together to work together on their cause. In this city, American’s love and affection for each other was countered by their hatred of the perceived evils that King George III had perpetrated against them. I guess “brotherly love” only went so far.

The word “Philadelphia” also reminds me of another situation where the meaning of the word “love” should have seemed quite clear and serve as a type of call-to-arms, but yet it caused a bit of frustration.

In John 21:15-19, the resurrected Christ appeared to the disciples on the seashore while they were fishing. After they came to the shore, they shared a meal together. Jesus then asked Peter, “…do you love me more than these?” and used the Greek “agape” for the word “love.” Jesus was asking Peter if he would love with all that he was. Peter answered, “…you know I love you” using the word “philia”, a virtuous love toward family, friends, and community. Peter was saying that he would love people with an affection that would stop before loving with a self-sacrificial love given to both friends and enemies. This conversation continued with Peter never offering “agape”, but with Jesus still expecting that Peter, and all of us, show that great love for one another.

How often do we qualify love? Love for one another… “I’d help her if…”, “I’d be nicer if…”, “If they weren’t so boring/mean/weird I would…” The same goes for Christ. “If I weren’t so busy I would pray/serve/study” “If I had more money I would give to the poor/tithe.” We’ve all done it… that is justify our shortcomings to the One who justified us. But glory to God for his unending love and his soul-cleansing forgiveness.

In this season of Thanksgiving, I think it behooves us to remember be thankful for Christ’s great love for us. It is a season to stop and allow Christ to convict us of letting go of our preconceived ideas about what WE think love is, and instead dive into our Bibles to read (and live out) what CHRIST says that love is.