I didn't publish this article on the day it happened but has been one of the great highlights of this trip for me personally so felt I should put this up. Keep in mind the date is about 3 weeks ago while we were still on the island.
March 20, 2019. Today I turned 43 and enjoyed two luxuries on the island that have been expected but not experienced. Dolphins and ice cream. I had it in my mind to see the sunrise coming over the ocean, so I waited till the morning of my birthday...crawling out of bed before anyone (and the pesky lorikeets) and gathering a mug of tea, my journal, Bible and camera I saddled my rusty steed (bike) and trekked the 1km ride up to the coast. Sunrises and sunsets are two of the most amazing natural wonders of the planet...and they happen everyday in every part of the world. A Canadian sunrise over a calm lake in mid summer with a loon calling on the far side of the shore is just about the closest thing to heaven I know. But today, after discarding my sandals and waddling up the dunes to find myself tumbling onto the beach looking at the miles of surf this was something difficult to describe. The colours: purple, orange, pink, hues of blue and white clouds dotted the horizon with the perpetual sound of the crashing surf, it was completely surreal and such a special moment. I just sat in the sand and watched it all enfold before me...the sun slowly coming up, the songs of the birds rising with te light, and seeing the landscape changing colours and contours by the minute. A friend of mine quoted John Calvin who said something like, 'Its a great tragedy when a Christian loses their sense of awe'. A sunrise is a good remedy for that I believe. While I was enjoying this view a flash in the water caught my eye...a fin? No way. Looking intently again at the spot in the ocean I figured I must have imagined it...but sure enough two fins poked out of the surface. I've seen Jaws too many times and my instinct was to run off the beach in case it was a 30' great white coming to eat me, but that passed quick enough and I realized I was in the presence of a pod of dolphins about 50' out. There were four (that I could count), jumping out of the water, riding down the crashing waves, they seemed to be simply goofing off. They were literally right in front of me and for the next half hour I watched with stunned joy at these four mammals playing in the surf. They would jump out of the water, slide down a wave then turn around and do it again, as if they were pleased to have a captive audience on the beach. I don't know much about dolphins or why they do what they do much less how often they frequent that part of the beach, but it did seem to me a very special gift on my birthday to encounter them and have a half hour to myself watching this display of fun. (see if you can spot the dolphin in the picture...I took this b/c I liked the way the water was washing over the beach...it wasn't till I looked at it after that I discovered a dolphin photobombed the shot!)
But a deeper question struck me--did God plan this? What do you think? Does God smile...is He up to mischief for our joy? Have you ever experienced a moment that seemed prepackaged by God to lift your spirit and settle your soul? Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy." I wonder how often I miss those moments God prepares for me. So thankful I was up and able to catch this one.
The other treat was less exotic but wonderful--ice cream with my family! Because of our long and hot commute we don't bring ice cream with us and to buy it on the island feels like I'm supporting piracy its so expensive. But for this day we splurged and enjoyed a few 'paddle pops' and cones...such a treat to enjoy this time with my family. A day to cherished for all its textured delights.
March 20, 2019. Today I turned 43 and enjoyed two luxuries on the island that have been expected but not experienced. Dolphins and ice cream. I had it in my mind to see the sunrise coming over the ocean, so I waited till the morning of my birthday...crawling out of bed before anyone (and the pesky lorikeets) and gathering a mug of tea, my journal, Bible and camera I saddled my rusty steed (bike) and trekked the 1km ride up to the coast. Sunrises and sunsets are two of the most amazing natural wonders of the planet...and they happen everyday in every part of the world. A Canadian sunrise over a calm lake in mid summer with a loon calling on the far side of the shore is just about the closest thing to heaven I know. But today, after discarding my sandals and waddling up the dunes to find myself tumbling onto the beach looking at the miles of surf this was something difficult to describe. The colours: purple, orange, pink, hues of blue and white clouds dotted the horizon with the perpetual sound of the crashing surf, it was completely surreal and such a special moment. I just sat in the sand and watched it all enfold before me...the sun slowly coming up, the songs of the birds rising with te light, and seeing the landscape changing colours and contours by the minute. A friend of mine quoted John Calvin who said something like, 'Its a great tragedy when a Christian loses their sense of awe'. A sunrise is a good remedy for that I believe. While I was enjoying this view a flash in the water caught my eye...a fin? No way. Looking intently again at the spot in the ocean I figured I must have imagined it...but sure enough two fins poked out of the surface. I've seen Jaws too many times and my instinct was to run off the beach in case it was a 30' great white coming to eat me, but that passed quick enough and I realized I was in the presence of a pod of dolphins about 50' out. There were four (that I could count), jumping out of the water, riding down the crashing waves, they seemed to be simply goofing off. They were literally right in front of me and for the next half hour I watched with stunned joy at these four mammals playing in the surf. They would jump out of the water, slide down a wave then turn around and do it again, as if they were pleased to have a captive audience on the beach. I don't know much about dolphins or why they do what they do much less how often they frequent that part of the beach, but it did seem to me a very special gift on my birthday to encounter them and have a half hour to myself watching this display of fun. (see if you can spot the dolphin in the picture...I took this b/c I liked the way the water was washing over the beach...it wasn't till I looked at it after that I discovered a dolphin photobombed the shot!)
But a deeper question struck me--did God plan this? What do you think? Does God smile...is He up to mischief for our joy? Have you ever experienced a moment that seemed prepackaged by God to lift your spirit and settle your soul? Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy." I wonder how often I miss those moments God prepares for me. So thankful I was up and able to catch this one.
The other treat was less exotic but wonderful--ice cream with my family! Because of our long and hot commute we don't bring ice cream with us and to buy it on the island feels like I'm supporting piracy its so expensive. But for this day we splurged and enjoyed a few 'paddle pops' and cones...such a treat to enjoy this time with my family. A day to cherished for all its textured delights.
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