A Summer of Regeneration
Upon a return from a late morning visit to the beach, I unpacked from my favorite sun bleached beach bag a sketch pad, pencils, and a book I treasure, Gift from the Sea, authored by Anne Morrow Lindberg. I love to revisit it during the summer months. It was given to me by my dear friend, Ellen, who was a great pioneer in her own right. She followed her heartfelt dreams and became one of the first female pilots to fly big jets for a major airline. Ellen always encouraged me to be fearless and explore the sacred paths of my soul and dreams.
I wrestled deeper in my beach bag, hoping to discovered something from today’s journey that would inspire some creativity for a blank canvas I have had sitting on my easel for a while.
As I went to put the book back on the shelf, it slipped out my hand onto the floor, opened to the closing page of the first chapter entitled “The Beach”. My eyes focused on the final sentence of the last paragraph of the chapter.
“Patience, patience, patience is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach waiting for a gift from sea.”
Wow, I thought, although this book of words and reflection was written over 70 years ago, it continues to teach us truth. I could almost hear the calm voice of the author sharing her simplistic yet accurate outlook on life. No different from those before us, we, as a people, are still searching for a balance in relationships and day-to-day activities as we mature.
As for me, my gift today was the discovery that it does not take much (we do not need piles of books, noise and distraction) to be in His presence and be regenerated to create from the heart.
I carried the book, opened to this page, to my table and began sketching out an image on the blank canvas, making it come alive.
As we all walk through the steps of another day and another season of life, I encourage us all to etch out a few moments in time to create a place of peaceful solitude to reflect and refill one’s soul and heart. There, one will receive the gift of joy, not only from your sea of beautiful surroundings, but from Heaven above.
