Sometimes it’s easy to pray.
When, after a day of snorkeling and fishing, you find yourself on a secluded island you’ve never heard of, lying on your back, floating weightless in the blue-green ocean. When the soundtrack of the day is the sound of the waves colliding gently with the shore. When the sky is dotted with cotton-balls and the water is so clear that when you stand neck deep you can still see your feet. When you are confronted so fully with the awesomeness of your Creator, what other response could you possibly have but prayer?
Thursday was Cassie’s birthday, but I feel like we all got a gift. We rented a fishing boat and spent the day on the ocean. It was like a dream.
This might come as a surprise to some people, but many of our days on the Race are rather ordinary. As ordinary as one can get in another country a zillion miles from home. Many of the communities I’ve lived in are very much like cities and towns back home, except for a few obvious cultural differences. My days are spent working at a job (this month: teaching English), trips to the market, washing clothes, spending time with my family (my team), watching movies on a laptop, and lots of other activities that are just part of normal life, both here and back home.
And that’s good, because it makes moments like this even more incredible.
I like hanging out with my teammate Ginelove for many reasons. One is because I can always count on her for a bit of wisdom. The last time we were at an ocean was in Phuket, Thailand. The waves that day were roaring and violent. We had so much fun letting them crash on us and trying to jump over them. “Whenever I think I need to do God’s job, I’m going to remember these waves,” she said.
This time the waves were gentle and calm, and the water clear and beautiful. “Even if they work me like a slave, I am going to remember this day,” she said. So will I.
A day to remember couldn’t come at a better time. I’m beginning to feel tired. Tired of living out of a pack. Tired of moving around. Tired of showing up in a new place very few weeks, and tired of having to figure out everything all over again. And tired, so very tired, of not seeing my family. I sometimes have dreams at night where I’m back in my apartment, sitting on my couch in my pajamas eating pizza and watching movies ever so comfortably. With no ants. And no flies. And air conditioning.
God knew. God knew I needed a break.
Before coming on the Race I could count on one hand the number of times I have been to the ocean. So the ocean is a big deal for me, and always a huge treat.
And so, month five, God didn’t just give me a break. He gave me the ocean.
