I was thinking to myself, "I really miss the ocean and how beautiful it is," while looking at the still murky green water.
We were not catching anything, then my dad said, "The water must be too dirty here, lets go find some cleaner water." As we upped anchor I looked out to the open sea and saw nothing but brownish green water around me, thinking..."Good luck... the whole ocean looks like this."
We set for a spot about 15 miles north of Dana Point to world famous surf spot Trestles. We got there and the water was sheltered from the wind. On the hills entering the water they were covered in grass and the water was blue. Then I remember thinking, "We for sure are going to catch some fish here." I caught 1 fish all day.
The water at the second spot seemed to be a more brilliant blue than my eyes had seen in a long time. Check out THIS PICTURE for somewhat of a visual of what I'm about to talk about.
The murky water of the Harbor was my first view of the ocean in a long time, it looked beautiful! As we got out of the harbor the water seemed to clear up and get cleaner, but still was green and murky. It wasn't until we got to a sheltered point of ocean, or off the coast more that the water truly cleared up and we could catch some fish. All the water looked beautiful at one point or another, but without seeing just how blue the water could get, you would be happy just sitting in the harbor.
The other day as I read ch. 3 of the revelation, I was interested to hear what Darrell said about the lukewarm verse that I had heard quoted since I was 5 years old.
"Lord, Help us! It is the nature of lukewarmness to be unaware that it is lukewarm." (DJ. 123)
The harbor is beautiful, outside the harbor is beautiful, the open ocean is beautiful. Without being in the open ocean I never would have known how nice it was.
Being out on the ocean reminded me the longer we learn and search for Jesus, the deeper and Bluer our understanding of Him is. What's even greater is that my definition of "deep-blue" keeps changing as I continue to learn. I look back and say, "Man what was beautiful at the time is just the surface of how beautiful a life with Christ can be."
"What does Jesus do with this 'Wretched' church? He moves toward them! He does not want them to remain in that nauseating condition. They were made for him and for the life of which he is the foundation and source." (DJ 123)
He comes to us [me] in the murky water and brings us [me] out to the deeper-truer-blue waters of His love, grace, and mercy. He cares for us [me] ! Enough to sit with us [me] in murky water.
May my mind be exposed to the ever deeper understanding of what it is to be in relationship with Christ.
"the beach is place where a man can feel he's the only soul in the world that's real. - more who :)." Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
ReplyDeletemightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty. David.
And to flash back to Trevor's post, I think Jonah wants in your meditation Andy!
Jonah's Prayer
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.
2 He said:
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the deep,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
5 The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.
Thank God for Mathew 16. As you write so beautifully, we are not alone in the murkiness.
Andy, what a true statement you made here: "Being out on the ocean reminded me the longer we learn and search for Jesus, the deeper and Bluer our understanding of Him is. What's even greater is that my definition of "deep-blue" keeps changing as I continue to learn. I look back and say, "Man what was beautiful at the time is just the surface of how beautiful a life with Christ can be."
ReplyDeleteIt excits me so much that our Savior, our Lord, calls to us and beckons us to continuously draw deeper into him, "more of him and less of us" instead of our relationship staying stagnant at the point of accepting Jesus into our lives. I second your prayer that God continues to alter and refine all our personal views of the "dark-blues" as we learn and experience with God.
love the vision, bro. love it.
ReplyDeleteReally great....I second Jen on the "Being out on the ocean reminded me the longer we learn and search for Jesus, the deeper and Bluer our understanding of Him is". I'm longing for a deep blue understanding! thanks for sharing
ReplyDelete