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The peace of the ocean.



Most of the tourists and locals had headed home for the day as we arrived at the beach. The sun had already started to set, yet we wanted to at least get a little taste of the beach before heading home. It had been a long day of teaching and outreach with children in the community. Stepping out of the car the smell of the sea and beach hit me. As we walked towards the beach we saw the local fishermen with their batches of fish tidying up their nets. It was so peaceful.

Next to the beach was a fresh water lake and as I stepped into it the water was lovely and warm and perfect for a late afternoon swim. The water was clear and it was almost completely still, only interrupted by the ripples made by the kite-surfers practicing before they would brave the forces of the sea.

I swam for a bit before walking to the side of the beach with the sea.

As the sea entered my vision it was a powerful sight The waves were white and frothy, and with the tide coming in it was quite a picture. I stood and watched the sea for a while. I felt it’s force as I dipped my feet in. And yet, with all that force surging through the waves, it made me feel strangely peaceful. The kind of peace that comes when you realize that you are faced with something that is so much more powerful than you are. The peace that comes when you remember that God is God and I am not. The peace that comes from the reminder that God is in control.

And it is with the residue of that peace I sit here writing. I guess residue is not the right word, lingering describes it better. And I hope that the lingering  peace might settle and become normality rather than a moment.

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