– Monday Muse –
Dear One, years ago when I ran a high school program with the help of many volunteers, I remember being intrigued by one of them. She was a young mother of four girls, three of them in high-school. During warm weather, in late spring, or fall, if a strong, westerly wind suddenly blew in, she might show up to take her girls out of school. Together they would race west across M 72 to Empire beach to watch, or play, in the rollicking, crystal-clear waves of magnificent Lake Michigan. If there wasn’t time enough for them to run home and grab swimsuits…no problem…they swam in their clothes. I was, so many times, delightfully amused by the woman’s “carpe diem” life style.
Lately, on such windy days, I find myself picturing wind-powered waves barreling toward Empire beach and the unequaled beauty of the expansive Sleeping Bear National Park shoreline. It is then that I yearn to brace myself on the damp, water’s edge, well within the occasional reach of a sudden watery spray. I long to be as close as I can safely be to the wonder-working power of undulating, thunderous waves.
Then on Sunday, two weeks ago, a mighty wind begun fiercely swirling the treetops in the woods behind our house. It was as if the trees were nothing but clumps of spindly, tall grasses. Hoping that the windstorm would last a few more hours, Ron and I hopped in the car, and headed twenty-two miles west. On the road, only a half-a-mile from our house, we came across flashing lights and a crew repairing lines downed by a large fallen tree. Three more times, before we reached Lake Michigan, we came across scattered dirt and debris in the road where fallen trees or branches had been removed.
Were we foolish to be driving around in such wind? Perhaps, but if we were, we were not alone. For when we reached the beach, all of the shoreline parking lots were nearly full.
With my first glance, I was horrified that we might have missed the momentous moment. Gratefulness, in abundance, spilled forth much like the waves upon the shore. Being only human we could not possibly take in the immense watery spectacle with a single glance. Oh to be all-seeing like God, just for this occasion.
Lake Michigan vast, ocean-like, fills the horizon as far as one can see from north to south. Everywhere across the undulating hues of greens, blues, glorious frothy whitecaps splash across the powerfully moving waters. All across the expanse, and straight ahead from Wisconsin, wild swells roll in, fold deep, rise again, high, higher, higher…in breathtaking motion, outstandingly beautiful. The magnificent scene permanently imprints upon the canvas of mind’s eye a cinematic work of art – a masterpiece by way of the wonder-working power of God.
Awestruck…we were…the entire time.
I could not get enough of the majestic scene and moved to take in the splendor from several viewpoints. The last being from where the picture above was taken. How does one leave such a wondrous moment in time…with great reluctance, but with heartfelt appreciation for the woman who brought to the fore a “seize the day” life style. “Thank you, Janine.”
“The seas have lifted up, O LORD,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea –
the LORD on high is mighty.”
Psalm 93:3-4 NIV
Blessings,
Susanne
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