I stand in the water at the edge of the world where Carolina coast shakes hands with foreign friends – hello, Africa. Hello, Europe. Hello, drops that carried our ancesestors over and salted the fish on my plate last night.
I play a little game, warm water up to my waist. How long can I keep my feet in one place? The sea is subtle today, confident enough in her power to take a break from showing off. Her waves are gentle, rhythmic, tame.
Still, rare is the woman who can challenge the sea in any kind of game and win. I lock my knees, set my eyes on the gray outline of a shrimp boat, pour all my power into keeping my feet firmly planted. But even these training-wheel waves move me. I spread my hands upon the water, hold out arms, dig in heels.
The sea smiles. She breathes. I lose my balance.
Finally, I declare defeat. I loosen my knees and surrender my body to the unforced swaying of the sea. The girls hold hands far to my left. I can hear them laughing, faces turned out to the line of blue on blue.
As I watch them, I realize my feet haven’t moved. Even as my body dips and swings, my feet stay in one sandy place beneath me. It goes against every instinct, to surrender to this rhythm, to give in to the movement outside my control. Victory after all, and I didn’t even see it coming.
You may get your desired results, but not on your own terms this time.
You painted a wonderful word picture Emily. I was in the water next to you. And though I work hard to resist the ocean’s rhythm…am I wise to do so? Does my resistance prevent me from something far better? Um. I don’t want to answer that. Sometimes I just like digging my toes deep in the sand. I’m pretty sure HE is just waiting for me to relax my toes grip and trust.
Diane | An Extrardinary Day´s last [type] ..Joy Day! | God’s character – My gratitude
Resistance? I know that all too well, as I attempt to trust our Father during this trying time of unemployment and uncertainty, yet I still resist. Human nature leads us to try to preempt anything negative, and, as our new pastor said yesterday, we spend so much time and money trying to prepare for a ‘what’s to come’ that we don’t know anything about. I hate that.
I hope that I will eventually trust God without resistance. Right now, though, it is so difficult that it leaves me in tears. He has to have something planned, yet the wait – like the wait before a huge wave crashes into you – is torture and driving me insane.
Oh, how you have captured our desire to be in complete control when surrendering gives us much more flexibility. Thanks for the lovely dip into the water today!
Kim´s last [type] ..When there’s a fork in the road, eat croissants
I was doing that down shore from you, in Pawleys Island. I love the feeling of freedom that comes in drifting in the waves. There is nothing like it. Thanks for the beautiful word picture, I’m reaching out my hand in the water to squeeze yours.
Shelly Miller´s last [type] ..Shed the Guilt, Because You Are Enough
I just LOVE your post
Thanks for sharing.
“Victory after all, and I didn’t even see it coming” . . . you know, the victory that is ours in Christ is a reality that i discover again & again, & again, in life. i don’t know why, but it always takes me by surprise. i think it’s indeed that “to surrender to this rhythm, to give in to the movement outside my control.”
thanks, as always, for your Cross-centered expressions, emily. this one reminds me much of the post that i wrote on the last day of 2011 called “the relief in failure.” b/c like you said, giving up is indeed the only way to win.
blessings to you & yours,
tanya
Oh Emily. How I needed, needed, needed this today. Thank you. Truly.
Lore Ferguson´s last [type] ..RUNNING [away] WALKING
I learned how to swim this year and my coach always said one thing that resonated: The Water Always Wins. So Learn to work with it not against it. Because it ALWAYS wins.
Emily,
Thank you! Your posts always speak what’s longing in my heart, soul, and mind. Your words always offer encouragement with whatever I’m struggling with. You are a breath of fresh air and I truly enjoy reading each and everyone of your posts.
Thank you again for speaking the Truth of Life.
In Christ,
Becki
A gorgeous reflection.
Jennifer@GDWJ´s last [type] ..How a Person Can Praise God When Things Fall Apart…
Beautiful and so visual. I must say that left me longing for a bit of sand between my toes.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Cliff Jumping
Timely post. The most difficult time to surrender is when you had no idea you had you knees locked. This is me. Thanks for the encouragement.
Don’t you just love the felling of sweet surrender?
Linda´s last [type] ..Focusing
Interesting thoughts. I need to let these soak in for a while. (no pun intended)
I love your closing remark, especially.
Kerry @ Made For Real´s last [type] ..Hungry Caterpillar Cuteness
Thank you, thank you.
i don’t know which I love better, the last two sentences or the picture. Maybe it’s the combo of both that gets me jamming. love it.
Meg´s last [type] ..This Week’s Menu
I love this picture. It fitted so well with one that someone shared when they were praying for me yesterday – about being in a canoe floating down a river and not needing to work hard, not needing to strive, just needing to go with the flow, dipping the paddle down into the water every now and again.
I think God is trying to tell me something!
That is just all kinds of beautiful. And so much wisdom in the profound. You are a gift, sister. Truly, a gift.
Rochelle´s last [type] ..Going With the Flow… and Happy 4th
Thank you, Rochelle.
I’m by the beach as well and my brain can’t help thinking up parallels like you did: How you really only enjoy swimming if you stop fighting the waves, How, contrary to all logic, it gets easier the deeper you get, How the sands have to be stirred and swept in the waves in order for the shore to be made smooth, How it can look from the shore that the stormy sea must be battering those swimming when for them they feel calm and peaceful, How the sea wants you to come closer, draws you in…
)
Great food for thought, Emily.
Laura (from Egypt
(waving!!) Laura from Egypt! Isn’t it sweet and amazing how the Lord shows his character through every thing that has been made? Love your parallels.
I just found your blog last week, and I can’t help but feel like this beautiful post was written for me today. So thankful for a loving Father who knows exactly what I need to hear. I’ve had an angry, rebellious, (even, dare I say, righteous?) turmoil stirring inside me all weekend, but through it all, some small part of me was still crying out to Him to help me not give in to my fleshly emotions, to please somehow change my attitude, even though it felt really good to be mad. And once again, He heard my cry and answered. Why doesn’t He ever give up on me? Why does He love me so darn much? I would’ve given up on myself long ago, but He’s always there, gently leading me. I don’t understand. But I’m so grateful….Thank you for allowing His Spirit to express itself to me through your words today. You are a kindred spirit indeed!
thanks for your words, Jennifer. I’m so glad you found us here in this quiet corner. Hope you’ll be back.
emily freeman´s last [type] ..4 ways to take a walk like a believer
deep sigh.
so beautiful.
patty´s last [type] ..Switzerland is Green
Beautiful post. I love that you see Jesus teaching you in the small things of life, because it encourages me to do the same.
It reminded me of Abraham and Isaac, that sometimes God asks us to give up things He doesn’t really plan on taking away. But He does it because He can do so much more good with it when we unclench our fists and realize that we never had control in the first place. That we were in fight with a current, against which we never had a chance of winning.
I read this again today, and it was like a kiss from my Father. I needed to hear it again, as I battle things that are too strong for me alone.
Bless you today.:)
Mary Anne