Cocoa Beach, Florida~photos by Linda Mose Meadows
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. "
Matthew 11:28
What a great idea to enjoy breakfast on the beach intent on
catching the sun rise. It was nothing complicated; we grabbed our beach chairs,
a piece of fruit and filled our baggies with crunchy cereal. That morning was
ripe with discovery! It was our first trip to Cocoa
Beach Florida
sky.
Several mornings prior to that, we’d experience first hand the
gray blue sky and dark waters evolve into an almost blinding bright blue sky.
Hours later the sky would hover over a clear ocean, visible sea turtles, fish
life and scorching sand. The sun was very harsh on the eyes and skin. We’d have to run for shade, pull out our
beach umbrellas and sun screen lotion to make “playing” out on the beach
tolerable. But it was still early morning and that moment the sun hadn't yet showcased
it blistering rays heating up the ocean shore. For now this stretch of beach
was a breezeway- a corridor of turtle treks, early joggers, the bicyclists, seashell
scavengers and hurried sandpipers sharing this sacred space. Admittedly, you
could be so absorbed in the activity that you'd forget to lift prayers of
thanksgiving. But certainly it was a time to appreciate God’s lovely handiwork
and marvel at all of this.
As we strolled the beach, chatted and appreciated the sights
and sounds it was easy to become “caught-up” in the natural arena. Oh the sand underneath our feet, squishing
through our toes was like a cool clay to the touch and simply perfect. After
returning to our beach chairs to sit, reflect and just be still, the frothy
waters danced. And then it was a most peculiar sight. It just seemed out
of context. There he was, a man from outer space! Ok maybe that’s an
exaggeration! But, his gadgets and his intent
stroll seemed out of place on the beach. His metal detector, and equipment positioned
for unearthing lost treasures was all new to me. It seemed he appeared out of no
where! Oh I was so tempted to ask him if he had any success finding what he was
looking for and instead just gazed at him and wondered-thought to myself, “Really?”
But in my spirit I believe that the Holy Spirit desires that
we take our eyes off this fella. That we instead reflect on our own“gadgets”, search
our hearts and ponder if we have found, or discovered what we are looking for?
What are you in search of? Can you touch it? Is it in arm’s
reach? Is it for sale? Is it just a matter of not having the funds to purchase
it? Or is it in the position you seek? Is it in the back of your closet? Or is it out of sight tucked
in the beat up trunk or lodged under the sand? Is it underneath the floorboards in the "family home place",
displayed in cabinet you seldom open? Maybe it’s in another relationship (you
believe), a travel destination you have yet to reach? Or is your treasure tucked in your heart’s
desire-your spirit and it can’t readily be accessed with a metal detector? I
bet there’s possibly an aching, a yearning that retail therapy won’t remedy! Is
your disposition, your bad attitude, your outlook feigned and excavation needed. What will be unearthed? I'd wager that possibly self actualization and an inner work is required? What are you hungering
for? As my Sister friends might inquire, “Whatcha’ need honey?”
I believe that much of what we search for; hunger for while
coveting our possessions with a “need more” mentality really is our desire to
fill a void. A void that can’t be filled with the stuff, relationships, behaviors and treasures we accumulate and
continually acquire. It’s evidenced by a physical act that won’t fix the need
at all. We search and search like our friend with metal detector to no avail. It’s an
exhaustive search that may last longer than we wish. I’m no Iyanla or psycho-therapist but I truly think our search for meaning and relevancy often is a
longing to embrace more of the things of God, more of our authentic longings to
get in touch with our thirsty soul’s elixir-a divine tug that echo’s, “You’ve
tried that, now come to me all you who are heavy, weary, wounded and tired!”
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all
of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Matthew
11:28
CeCe Winans sings a popular song, Thirst for You. The lyrics
are poignant, go on and read them:
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
Oh Lord, we are waiting
Let Your river flow
Come flood our hearts again
Quench our thirsty souls
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
Oh Lord, we are waiting
Let Your river flow
Come flood our hearts again
Quench our thirsty souls
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
Oh Lord, we are waiting
Let Your river flow
Come flood our hearts again
Quench our thirsty souls
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
Oh Lord, we are waiting
Let Your river flow
Come flood our hearts again
Quench our thirsty souls
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
We thirst for You, we search for You
In a dry and barren land we're longing for Your hand
To guide us to a place where You can cleanse us with Your rain
Baptize us once again we thirst for You
http://www.songlyrics.com/cece-winans/thirst-for-you-lyrics/#OE6qIJ7XPvVjul3s.99
Friends take a moment to put down your heavy equipment. Seek
God, read His Holy Scripture, pray for direction, take heed, get the for real help and surely you’ll
benefit from the discovery. A discovery that quenches your thirsty soul!
Shared in Love, Linda Mose Meadows; Blogger, Motivational Speaker and Inspirational Author of: Destined To Receive: Reflections and Devotionals Celebrating The Love of God (Createspace, 2013) and Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises (Tate Publishing, 2007)
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