Today, as I write this, it’s reportedly the hottest day of the year. It seems unbelievable to think that by the time it’s read, we will be thinking about going back to school and there will be an autumn nip in the air.
Through the summer, Julian has been having a half day on a Friday, so we have been driving out of Ipswich for lunch and spent the afternoons reading somewhere sunny and quiet. It has been amazing.
Last Friday, we went to Bawdsey and had lunch at the Boathouse Café, overlooking the water to Felixstowe Ferry. Then we sat on the pebbly beach near to where the ferry comes in and read our books. At least, he read his book. My attention strayed to the pebbles and shells under me. I was running them through my fingers and thinking about God’s promise to Abraham to make him the father of a great nation as numerous as the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17). Each stone was smooth from being buffeted in the sea; the colours were different and the diversity fantastic. There were shells and pieces of shells among the debris – some with mother-of -pearl shimmer in the sunlight. As you can tell, I was mesmerised for several minutes, running the beach through my fingers and selecting favourite pieces to keep, content and happy in my own little world.
Then the squawk of seagulls jolted me into the present. I looked to my left and a family of children were throwing bread pieces out onto the sea and the birds were swooping and competing for the food. My attention was drawn across the water to the business of Felixstowe. The ferry had just left and was on its way across. Other ships and boats were sailing down the river. The sunlight twinkled on the water, the clear sky was a deep blue.
Sometimes I can be so involved in myself that I’m in danger of missing the bigger picture. There’s so much going on out there in God’s world. I’m so glad that God is ‘the lifter up of my head’ (Psalm 3:3) showing me all His providence and helping me keep perspective.