Sublime

Okay, now for a post that the folks back home in winter will get jealous about. It was bound to happen, no?

Life is complicated here, but it is certainly still beautiful - especially around the edges. There are some gorgeous vistas from the hills and the shore and last week we had one sublime morning at a beach.

Now, keep in mind, this is sublime with a 4 year old and 2 year old, so there was still sibling squabbling, complaints about the sunscreen and the car ride, various bathroom needs accommodations al fresco, sand in the food and eyes and resulting tears, tears about the waves, tears and incensed cries about who got what beach toy, and which towel, and the like.

But, amidst business as usual we had sublime moments. Moments when it was easy to be thankful, when things were just right, when all three of us were content (Daddy the Engineer was at work), when the beauty - natural and human - was overwhelming.

Here was the lunch scenery we enjoyed. I'll put it out there in a bit of a panorama, but it won't do it justice.

It's a pity that the sea color doesn't really come through. It's a beautiful green blue changing to a light blue at the reef and dark blue after the reef. Actually, if you look closely you can see a diving boat anchored out there; they are doing a training dive with two people.

We had our picnic lunch here earlier this week. 

Some other sublime moments:

- seeing a hummingbird on the flowers by our front door

- getting some quiet time with my husband while the kids were sleeping

- watching the bands of rain come across the water towards the shore

- watching the mist as the cool rain hits the hot hills

- seeing a rainbow during a storm

- swinging on a hammock with my kids under two tall palm trees

- craft time with my son while my daughter napped

- the smell of dough proofing for homemade bread, and then the smell of bread baking

- flying a kite as a family

- seeing the moon and stars light up the very dark sky 

I'll leave you with a couple images. Enjoy!

Not a fabulous image, really; but you get a teeny glimse of it; a little piece of the enormity.

Lord, thank you for the sublime moments. Thank you for that sky last night.

Help me to seek out, expect, and focus upon the sublime. When I am frustrated, or frightened, or exhausted, or bewildered, bring my mind back to the sublime. Bring me back to example after example after example of your abundant provisions for me and my family. Let me recall how some of the most sublime moments in my life were preceded by fear, by lack of trust. 

In retrospect, I can see so clearly how you provided for my every need. Allow me to root into that rich history, to keep in touch with your past provision by recognizing, naming, pausing for the sublime moments in the present. Aid me as I practice tying your past performance to my future expectations. I pray that I may let go of my need to control, and instead trust in you and your constant provision.