The Cohabitation of Joy and Sorrow...
I thought that would make a more creative title than "why I'm happy yet sad" to be back from vacation.
I spent the past 7 days staring at the Gulf of Mexico either from my balcony or on the sand of the beach. I spent 7 days in a state of pure relaxation and joy. Though there were moments involving crying kids, changes in plans, and even some of the drama that comes from simple misunderstandings between people, none of these moments were enough to shatter the tranquility of simply being 'away.'
The trip down? Uneventful...though I laugh when the names of towns on exit markers sound like people's names: Kimberly Morris (2 towns, same exit)...and so on: Jemison Thorsby (sounds like that kid who got beat up at school a lot)...and Georgiana Starlington (probably dated Jemison). But I digress...it's amazing what entertains on long trips...
As my week started out, I got to lead worship for a few people that felt a lot like family after just a few days spent with them...Luke, Leslie, Lauren, Dave, Sheila, Jim, Wendy, Chad, and Liz.... Small group, but their love for each other and for God has left a lasting impression on my soul (I know their names, and I never remember names). I truly found myself missing all of them when we parted ways on Tuesday afternoon. Apart from the worship time, I got to share meals with them (like a cool meal on the bay at Lulu's: http://www.lulubuffett.com/index.htm), throw frisbees on the beach, snorkel in the surf, and engage in meaningful conversation (like discussing that Scooby-Doo episode that featured Jerry Reed as a guest 'cartoon').
After that 'phase' of the trip ended, Stacey, Eli, and the young-uns arrived on Tuesday. We checked into a nice 4th floor condo overlooking the beach. Su-weet!! More sun, more good food, more playtime in the ocean and at the pool followed.
Throughout the week, I got to see dolphins (even one jumping clear out of the water...beautiful sight), sharks (including a 5-6 footer just 15 feet off shore), sting rays, skates, hermit crabs, and all kinds of fish. Got to see a storm out on the water after dark one night. Was completely awed by the destruction Ivan had left behind that is still very evident. I walked the beach early in the morning. I walked the beach late at night. Got to encounter God through his creation in a powerful way - more powerful, it seemed, than any worship or church time I've had...well, at least a different kind of encounter.
Too much to tell. Just a great trip.
...
Now I understand the kind of emotional dilemma friends like Eric have vocalized after vacations. Nothing's more depressing than seeing "Decatur 47" on a street sign (indicating 47 miles to Decatur) after having started the day out standing on the beach looking at the water some 350 miles away.
As I thought I would, I feel a bit melancholy now that I'm home. I miss the beauty of the ocean. I miss the freedom and the relaxation of just being there. I miss my new friends from Crosspoint Baptist Church in Baton Rouge (ironic, eh?). I miss the revitalization being at the beach lent to my marriage to Stacey. I miss getting up in the morning, sliding the door open, and having the wind and smell of saltwater charging my senses... I miss the spiritual 'high' in something as simple as feeling the sand pull away from under your feet as the waves cover your feet then go back out... I miss the 'Sabbath' experience I've had all week.
But I don't just feel melancholy. I also feel good. Revitalized. And challenged that I need more 'Sabbath' in my own life. Not wasting time...but finding time to put all the crap in my life aside and just sit in God's presence...whether at a place like the beach or sitting on my own back porch at night staring at the stars. Maybe I'd be far less stressed (neurotic) about things if I did this...
I'm also challenged that I don't do enough. I don't get out enough. I don't stretch my talents and interests enough. I sit in the rut of routine, and rarely challenge myself to do anything new...
So as I sit here writing, part of me is still sitting in a chair on the balcony on the 4th floor of Ocean House 1 staring at the white tops of the waves as they crash agains the sand in the darkness...hearing kids playing in the pool below the balcony...feeling the salty wind on my face...
And part of me is right here...hoping that I can be the kind of person HERE that I felt I was THERE. More relaxed...more focused...
And simply...happier.
I spent the past 7 days staring at the Gulf of Mexico either from my balcony or on the sand of the beach. I spent 7 days in a state of pure relaxation and joy. Though there were moments involving crying kids, changes in plans, and even some of the drama that comes from simple misunderstandings between people, none of these moments were enough to shatter the tranquility of simply being 'away.'
The trip down? Uneventful...though I laugh when the names of towns on exit markers sound like people's names: Kimberly Morris (2 towns, same exit)...and so on: Jemison Thorsby (sounds like that kid who got beat up at school a lot)...and Georgiana Starlington (probably dated Jemison). But I digress...it's amazing what entertains on long trips...
As my week started out, I got to lead worship for a few people that felt a lot like family after just a few days spent with them...Luke, Leslie, Lauren, Dave, Sheila, Jim, Wendy, Chad, and Liz.... Small group, but their love for each other and for God has left a lasting impression on my soul (I know their names, and I never remember names). I truly found myself missing all of them when we parted ways on Tuesday afternoon. Apart from the worship time, I got to share meals with them (like a cool meal on the bay at Lulu's: http://www.lulubuffett.com/index.htm), throw frisbees on the beach, snorkel in the surf, and engage in meaningful conversation (like discussing that Scooby-Doo episode that featured Jerry Reed as a guest 'cartoon').
After that 'phase' of the trip ended, Stacey, Eli, and the young-uns arrived on Tuesday. We checked into a nice 4th floor condo overlooking the beach. Su-weet!! More sun, more good food, more playtime in the ocean and at the pool followed.
Throughout the week, I got to see dolphins (even one jumping clear out of the water...beautiful sight), sharks (including a 5-6 footer just 15 feet off shore), sting rays, skates, hermit crabs, and all kinds of fish. Got to see a storm out on the water after dark one night. Was completely awed by the destruction Ivan had left behind that is still very evident. I walked the beach early in the morning. I walked the beach late at night. Got to encounter God through his creation in a powerful way - more powerful, it seemed, than any worship or church time I've had...well, at least a different kind of encounter.
Too much to tell. Just a great trip.
...
Now I understand the kind of emotional dilemma friends like Eric have vocalized after vacations. Nothing's more depressing than seeing "Decatur 47" on a street sign (indicating 47 miles to Decatur) after having started the day out standing on the beach looking at the water some 350 miles away.
As I thought I would, I feel a bit melancholy now that I'm home. I miss the beauty of the ocean. I miss the freedom and the relaxation of just being there. I miss my new friends from Crosspoint Baptist Church in Baton Rouge (ironic, eh?). I miss the revitalization being at the beach lent to my marriage to Stacey. I miss getting up in the morning, sliding the door open, and having the wind and smell of saltwater charging my senses... I miss the spiritual 'high' in something as simple as feeling the sand pull away from under your feet as the waves cover your feet then go back out... I miss the 'Sabbath' experience I've had all week.
But I don't just feel melancholy. I also feel good. Revitalized. And challenged that I need more 'Sabbath' in my own life. Not wasting time...but finding time to put all the crap in my life aside and just sit in God's presence...whether at a place like the beach or sitting on my own back porch at night staring at the stars. Maybe I'd be far less stressed (neurotic) about things if I did this...
I'm also challenged that I don't do enough. I don't get out enough. I don't stretch my talents and interests enough. I sit in the rut of routine, and rarely challenge myself to do anything new...
So as I sit here writing, part of me is still sitting in a chair on the balcony on the 4th floor of Ocean House 1 staring at the white tops of the waves as they crash agains the sand in the darkness...hearing kids playing in the pool below the balcony...feeling the salty wind on my face...
And part of me is right here...hoping that I can be the kind of person HERE that I felt I was THERE. More relaxed...more focused...
And simply...happier.
1 Comments:
Well this is Decatur, no one can be happy here.
On a brighter note, maybe one of the new crosspoint extensions can be in Gulf Shores.
hOOt hOOt
This is Cap'n Carl, signing off.
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