THE LIFE CHANGER

THE  FRIENDLY OCEAN

“Three scores and seven years ago . . . “an eleven-year old little girl was reciting on the beach.  The white caps broke as they reached the shore.  The ocean winds blew her shoulder-length black hair across her face. The waves quietly swished at her feet.  Addressing the far horizon with all her might, she stood tall, as tall as her less than five-foot figure could.

Many years have passed since she last stood on that beach.  So many sunsets have set on the western horizon; as many sunrises have risen on the eastern sky.  But the ocean has become a friend to her.  It soothed her nerves when they were frayed.  Its vastness reminded her of how she was part of a great whole, that there was a wide world out there, full of possibilities.  Sometimes she would find herself standing on a beach halfway across the world from her childhood hometown, nostalgically remembering that little girl.  Oh, what a character she was! 

THE “RUNT OF THE LITTER”

The youngest of five siblings, she was the “runt of the litter” the old folks teased her, albeit with much affection.  She was not an attractive child, but she had a gift that made up for this lack. Early on she had displayed a gift of language and a stage presence that was unusual for someone her age.  Along the way, teachers took interest in her and helped her hone her skills.  A high school teacher tutored her on voice projection.  “Go to the beach, and speak to the waves.  Climb a tall tree and talk to the clouds,” he would say.  As she did so, she shared her dreams, thoughts, joys and hurts with this great body of creation.  In the late evenings in her room, she would hear the sounds of the ocean and like a friend, it would calm her spirit, exhausted from the activities of the day.

 THE LIFE CHANGER

If she could go back and summon the waves that patiently listened to her young “. . . Four scores and seven years ago . . .” she would say, “Thank you for listening to me and sharing in my dreams.  My life has been blessed with so much, much more than I have ever dreamt.”  And if the waves would ask, “How was that possible?” She would tell them how one day she met the Saviour, the one named Jesus, and how that made all the difference in her life. The discovery that in His great love, the Almighty God in heaven gave His only Son to die on the cross, to suffer the punishment she deserved, was her life changer. And with this gift of grace,  He gave her His promise, “The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life.  The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." (Psalm 121:7-8 NIV)  And He has kept His word.  By His grace, her life has gained direction.  He has led her into paths that she never dreamed of. Her life has been rich, far richer than her own plans and efforts could ever have made it.