Where the Water Is




Seaglass is that pretty little treasure you find sometimes when you're walking on a beach. The waves bring it to shore along with a million shells and pieces of shells. You have to be good at spotting it, sometimes like any treasure, it hides, waiting to be discovered.

I think seaglass starts out as ordinary shards of glass that could cut the strongest skin. Someone, somewhere throws it in the ocean like the very worst sort of polluter. But the ocean and her waves have a treat in store for that glass. Buffered and pummeled over time -sometimes 30-100 years -  by the mighty power of the ocean, the glass becomes frosty and the sharp edges become soft and smooth. Green and brown seaglass are the most common, with blue and red rarer to find.

I love to collect seaglass whenever I am at the beach. And this trip, there was no seaglass to be found. Instead, I found the above, a piece of wood that is shaped like a divining rod (with an odd, stubby piece sticking up from one of the ends.)

A divining rod is a forked-shaped stick commonly used to discover underground water or minerals.

It wasn't on the beach yesterday. I think God meant for me to discover it today. The pretty seaglass is what I was looking for, but the hardy stick was today's treasure.

I see this symbol as a gentle reminder that God's will is playing out in my life. I don't think it is God's will that I got divorced. I don't believe that everything happens for a reason. But, I do believe that sometimes Godly intervention is needed when things aren't going according to His plan. And God can make good out of all bad things, for those who believe in Him.

God knows where each of us is, much like the divining rod knows where the water and minerals are hidden. He knows my pain. He is here in the midst of my pain, holding me tight. I don't actually feel His arms aroud me like I did when my husband hugged me every morning, but I feel His presence with every kind word from a friend or family member. I feel His presence in every sweet and nurturing word from my mother. I feel His presence when my children, who always seem to know when I'm hurting the most, reach out and invite me over or just call or text to check on me. I feel His presence when my sweet and sassy Lyla brings a smile to my face even though I can barely see through my tears, or when she lifts up her chubby little arms for me to hold her. I feel His presence in my DivorceCare group on Monday nights. I feel His presence when I'm worshipping in church on Sunday. And, I feel His presence when my head is bowed in prayer or when I'm looking up and pleading with Him to get me through another day.

Like the divining rod, God has a way of looking deep into my soul to find me; to rescue me.

Time for my favorite Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

So, no seaglass this time. But again, God knew what I needed to see this morning. A gentle reminder that He is with me. He sees me. He made me. He loves me deep, deep down; where the water is.

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