God's Colors

      The coast is a beautiful place. So many people live here. So many people visit here. It's a hot spot for vacation and tourists. And I have the blessing of living fifteen minutes from the beach. Walking  distance. It'd be a very long walk, yes. But it's not impossible.

     I hate to say it, but I've only gone into the ocean twice this whole year. Tonight is my second time. The waves lap at the shore, seeming to struggle against it. The air is cold, and I'm having doubts about going in. I mean really. It's going to be dark any minute, and I'm thinking I'll probably freeze to death. I slosh through the water till I'm ankle deep, waiting for the stinging cold to prick my nerves. But it doesn't. The water is warm. I've never felt the water this warm before, for as long as I can remember. I almost want to laugh. This is going to be fun.

     My friends and I swim for about fifteen or twenty minutes. But the current is getting super strong, pulling us toward the pier. I dig my heels deep into the sand. But I just keep sliding forward. We finally agree it's time to get out. Back at the fire pit we roast marshmallows. I keep turning to look out over the ocean, toward the setting sun. I keep thinking the sun will penetrate the thick dark mass of grey, shattering the gloominess with color. I brought my camera and I'm ready. But it doesn't. The clouds are too thick. It suddenly hits me that we won't be experiencing one of those glorious beach sunsets. I try not to be discouraged.

     I sit, camera in hand, watching the waves lap the shore, watching as is gets darker and darker.

     So what, there won't be a pink and red sky today, but as I watch ocean I'm stuck by it's beauty. The little bit of light cutting through the thick dark clouds reflects against the water's surface. And so do the lights from the pier. And I'm filled with thankfulness. Struck by a thought, I wonder how we so often thank God for sight but forget to thank him for the things we can see. Like colors. Here, in the lack of such radiance, I'm thankful that I know what I'm missing. I know some people who are color blind. How often am I thankful for the opportunity to see colors, am I thankful that God created colors?

     God is good, and despite the fact that his creation is tainted by a curse, he still makes it beautiful, for His pleasure and ours. I pray that I will always be struck by the beauty of His creation, even when it's not what I'm hoping for.