“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open and choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea." -TGOTS, p.11 I am not so sure that I have come so much to be rewarded as I have come as a pilgrim. Perhaps, though, all who come searching come longing for a reward. Since I have come searching, then, yes, I have come wanting the reward.The mountains can teach one many things: glory, wonder, awe and humility and since I live in the high ranges of Colorado, my soul is needing something else—something that the beach offers. Yet, what it offers, I do not yet know.I have come vacant in my soul, tired in my bones and longing in my heart. I have come needy I suppose; a beggar, perhaps. I Here the rhythm of the tides will be my teachers. The ebb and flow of the waves my constant reminders. The wide, empty beach mentors.On Day One at the beach, I am wondering how to exchange the greediness of my time; the impatience of my mind as well as all of my soul’s anxious things for the peace of the sea this morning.This morning, the sea looks as calm as it looked when Jesus, himself spoke into it and the waves died down and the calm took over. I want to be taken over. Yes, that is what I long for this morning. I want to be taken over and in saying this, I confess on day one that I acknowledge my need. I would not have come at all if I were not in need! -----------------------------------We are on a pilgrimage of both work and rest--exchanging the glory of the mountains of Colorado for the quiet of a barrier island off the coast of North Carolina. We have a week before our first ministry happens with a couple coming here for a soul care intensive and we await these quiet days before the full release of The Jesus Life. In the Chapter 1, I describe our need for a different kind of life and why this is so important! Join us in the book's invitation to experience The Jesus Life.
