When I got home from work today, I found out that a friend of the family who had been planning to come spend the day with us tomorrow came today instead, and brought a friend along with him. It was great to meet her, and nice to catch up with him a little.

The muddy color in the ocean to the top right is where a river (obviously very silty right now!) is joining the ocean.
After talking for a while this afternoon, most of the family went out to the local beach. We’ve had quite a bit of hot weather lately, so it was nice to relax and wade a little in the beautiful cool Pacific!
We were on the beach for 15 minutes or so, and then headed up the steep, winding hill to the lookout over the bay. This is a favorite spot for us; we’ve taken quite a few different visitors up there. It never seems to get old, though.
While we stood at the railing, enjoying the breeze, the sunshine, and the beauty around us, our new friend commented that these rocks have been there for a long, long time—even longer than she or I have been alive. Pondering that fact, looking at the intricately carved cliff face, reminded me of God.
“His Word lasts forever, too,” I commented as I studied the deep greens of the native bush in front of us.
We might come past and look at it, maybe even dig a little into it to figure out why it looks the way it does. Generations come and go, and yet His Word is always there. Unchanged, unmoved, solid as rock.
“Lots of little faces have come and stared at this rock, just like we are now,” my new friend mused. “Then they go away, but the rock stays there. And more little faces will come and look at it again.”
Through everything—storm, wind, hail, earthquake, beating sun—the rock stands.
Soon it was time to move on. My cousin, who was also with us, wanted to explore a track he had found there—that we had no idea was in the area, even though we’ve explored that particular beach many different times. It was a fun walk; we did a good portion of it in an hour and a half.

A container ship we spotted from the lookout on the track.
On the way down, the boys all went at their own speeds, most getting to the beach and changed before we got back.
I stopped to “smell the roses” for a bit. Except I think I forgot to actually smell them in my attempt to get a good picture.
All in all, it’s been a gorgeous day! God’s creation is so beautiful . . . hearing the twitters and tweets of birds singing in the native bush, the crash and roll of the waves hitting the beach, the sucking knocking sound of rocks rolling in the receding wave, the indescribable blue blue of the ocean, the beautiful piney scent as we drove under pine trees, and so many other sights and sounds and flavors that I can’t even describe. God is good. God is so, so good.
And the really amazing part? Despite all this beautiful creation, that He can enjoy every single day of every single year, He chooses to love us—who scorn His very Gift all too often.
Challenge: What is one thing you can see from where you are right now that shows His beautiful loving care? That shouts that He is in control?
Those rock formations are really spectacular!
What a delight to come home and to find such a description of our day and the meditations of your heart, Esther.
It is only courteous to provide a response to this, but even putting courtesy aside, your musings would probably have elicited one from me anyway. I want to tell you how your posting has fitted into our weekend. I hope that it encourages you.
‘C’ has been a friend of mine for a very long time as you know. We have weathered many a storm, but our friendship has never been stronger. This weekend, a storm hit her in a way that had the potential to really shake her. She is a confident, intelligent, spiritual woman, and as any other person would also experience, she too has had to face her own humanity on several occasions. In recent times, she has found her own limits.
On the day prior to us coming to see you, truth be told, life had dealt her quite a blow. A series of events followed which both preceded our trip to Cheviot, and which continued afterwards. Suffice it to say, that the events that transpired were such that nobody could, on their own strength, honestly say that they could get through it. The ripples in life’s ocean were huge.
To take her away from it, I asked her to accompany me to Cheviot. I wanted to surround her with Christian people and to take her away from ‘the World’. Sometimes, I find that I am not enough on my own. Sometimes, people can benefit more from one word of a stranger, than a million words from a friend.
We arrived in Cheviot and as soon as we arrived, ‘C’ felt at home. I could tell. She relaxed. And she related. Your time with her, your conversation about ‘The Rock’ helped to refocus her attention onto the One who is before and after all things; the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. On the way up to Cheviot, I had been speaking to ‘C’ from the Word; in particular, ‘Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.’
That was our meditation on the way up to see you all. We also considered that the whole of creation testified of the hand and love of the Creator. But when we arrived, her heart was still heavy. But very quickly it began to change.
When we went to Gore Bay, you and ‘C’ spoke to each other. Your and her thoughts resonated, and your comments about ‘The Rock’ and the transitional nature of everything and everyone except that Rock helped to re-focus her thoughts onto the Lord. It connected so perfectly with what we had spoken about in the car, but you achieved something that I had failed in; you caused her to re-centre herself and you helped her to regain her peace; to acknowledge Him in ALL her ways (including right there and then.)
When we got home, we saw your post on this blog. I hope that you don’t mind, but as your discourse did not just mention the Rock, but also the flowers (roses, not lilies, but the principle is the same), and you took time to see and even photograph the splendour that is greater than Solomon’s Glory, so I also I took the time to read it to to my friend, to show her your photographs, to consider our combined meditations. We used your blog as a mirror.
When we first arrived at your house, both she and I were completely exhausted. The weight of the World weighed heavy on us both. Both of us felt as though our peace was dented. Your family, your musing, and even you just being yourself and walking into the waves and enjoying God’s creation, and your photography and your blog… every one of these things was a ministry of ‘life unto life’ for both ‘C’ and I.
‘C’ is a woman who, without a doubt, is one of the most amazing and faithful people that I have ever met. I love her to bits and I have not had a closer friend. But when I fail to be able to meet her needs in entirety, then I rely on His unfailing hand; another part of the Body of Christ to help. I’m writing this to say thank you for what you did, for what you said, for who you are, and to point out one very important truth. You have no idea who will read your blogs. But ANYONE who does must surely be blessed. We truly were. Thank you.Each time that you press a key on your computer keyboard, you may be acting as the hand of God, conveying a blessing to others.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
God bless you with an even greater glory than either Solomon or the Lilies.
Ross