I never have been “a beach girl”. I have never lived near the ocean, never felt drawn to it, and honestly, I don’t like it. I hate how sand gets and stays everywhere, I hate being hot and staying hot, and I am not comfortable in a swim suit. I love looking at pictures of the beach on postcards and I was content with that being the distance I kept, then I moved into a postcard here in beautiful San Andres Colombia. My team and I were so excited when we first saw the beach because it was breathtaking but then the realization of what that meant crept into my head. I would be spending a lot of time in a place were I felt so uncomfortable and so insecure.
While I did love the times at the beach with my team, except the day I got sunburned (just wear sun screen y’all), it was rarely what I looked forward to with excitement. And today was no exception;
In our research of San Andres, we came across another small island called Jhonny Cay and learned it was a popular and beautiful tourist attraction. We were given today as a day of Sabbath and we decided that today would be the day we ventured to Jhonny Cay to see what the raving reviews were all about. After breakfast this morning we put on our swimsuits (and sunscreen) and headed off to our next adventure. I was excited to see the “aquarium” part of the island and get to experience a different side of beach life, but the Lord had other plans.
I went into the water with the intention of being in there for the minimum time required so I appeared to be having a good time but I kept having this feeling of “I should just stay out here a little longer”. I found a reef area where I was able to stand at water level while still being out in the ocean and I just stared into the water. The locals call the ocean the “Sea of Seven Colors” because of all the variations of blue that can be seen out at sea, and photos just cannot do it justice. I was mesmerized but the beauty that surrounded me and all I could do was stand in awe. It was a strange feeling because I felt so small but at the exact same time, I could see the incredible siz of God. This beautiful scene is just part of God’s masterpiece that He created with intention and purpose. And what’s even cooler than that, is that I am another beautiful scene that is a part of His masterpiece. There I was in the middle of the ocean, staring at the horizon wondering where the water stopped and where the sky began, knowing the God was greater. Greater than my insecurities, greater than my fears, greater than my enemies. I felt the invitation to not just be in His artwork but to be an active part of it. If I let Him, He is going to use me for big things and all I have to be is willing. Willing to let go who I am and just live in who He called me to be. He has taken care of this beautiful ocean, He can surely take care of me.
