Life is much like a beautiful ocean. It flows from place to place. It has many twists and turns. It can be very calm and quiet or it can be loud and aggressive. The ocean is home to many kinds of exotic fish, mammals, reptiles, and plants. The ocean can create and tear down or destroy. The ocean has a hidden power that many underestimate.
The ocean holds more secrets than anyone could ever imagine. It holds the remnants and the hope of the Children of Israel escaping to the Promised Land. It holds the truth and the bodies of my ancestors who died of disease and hunger and then tossed from the slave ships like a piece of trash. It also holds the bodies of those who chose to jump to their death rather than live in slavery.
The ocean holds jewelry, art and other treasures from sunken ships. The remnants of many wars lay at the bottom of the ocean.
My life is much like the ocean. I hold many secrets probably a lot more than you can imagine. I hold gifts, talents, skills, creativity and beautiful dreams. I hold memories of long ago, visions, hopes and dreams for tomorrow and the truth of today.
My life is much like the ocean as I have given birth to 2 beautiful Queens, protected and provided for them with everything I had. Only them and God have seen the true beauty that lies within me. They were formed and nurtured in it. It is woven into the very fabric of their being. They swam in the ocean of love and beauty inside of me for 9 months. They were birthed into my ocean, my life.
Unfortunately, the direction and temperament of the ocean can change in a second. This is also true in my life. One moment everything is fine and then in the next everything is falling apart. Just a few seconds ago I was enjoying the calm rhythmic sounds of the waves, I blink my eyes and find that the wind is up and the waves are now tumultuous. Hmm, isn’t that how life happens?
As the winds and waves get stronger I get weaker. I begin to sink lower and lower. I can’t breathe. I become anxious and depressed. I’m crying frantically. As I descend to the ocean floor I can’t see anything. Wondering am I going to die in this place of darkness, this place of uncertainty, this place of fear and void of beauty?
Am I going to leave my gifts, talents, and skills on the ocean floor? Am I going to allow the world to be void of the beauty and love I possess? Am I going to let my light die right here, right now?
The very thought of my light dimming is heart-wrenching. I calm myself and I look up. I see His light shining from above. Like the ocean, I am now gaining strength. My temperament and direction have changed as my eyes are set on Him. I now have hurricane-like powers. As I ascend to the top of the ocean I take some treasures with me. I store in my heart the love of Christ. I gather the lessons I learned, the memories of yesterday, the strength, history, and legacy of my ancestors, and the hopes and dreams for tomorrow. I gather my struggles, my shortcomings and all the broken pieces of me. I lay them at the feet of Jesus. I submit myself to His will and allow Him to transform my broken pieces, my scars, my testimony, and my failures into a beautiful, whole and healed version of me for His glory.
I leave on the ocean floor the hurt and pain of yesterday, fear of the ocean’s waves and what they may bring into my life. I leave self-doubt and low self-esteem.
I leave on the ocean floor the old version of me.
Photo credit: thrillist.com
