Walking along the cliffs and tide pools of the Cabrillo National Monument I was taken by the beauty of the rugged coastline. The rhythm of the waves rolling towards and crashing against the cliffs was mesmerizing.
Signs along the way explained how rain and runoff created layers of sediment on the ocean floor. Over millennia the sediment hardened to rock and seismic activity thrust the ocean-layered floor above waterline to create this fragile coast. The waves carved out what is seen today.
Layers of build-up over the years eroded away to create the beauty of this day.
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| What are you seeing or experiencing today? (Photo: California shoreline, Cabrillo National Monument) |
As I continued to watch the waves break against the shoreline, I realized that the action of carving away continues with each undulation. What I saw or experienced a moment ago is not the same as it is now. Each wave brings change: change unknown in the previous moment. The first image is but a memory: the second image is different and beautiful in its own way. I needed to let go of what I have seen (past) and focus on what is changing (now).
In other words, how will the next wave create or alter what I am seeing?
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| Can I let go of the past to see what is happening now? |
As I read the information signs and watched the continuing revelation of God's creative touch, I pulled back from the apparent beauty and noticed other signs, pylons, and barriers that warned of the unstable nature of the shoreline as the water undercut the cliffs' base.
It
was interesting -- and a little disheartening -- watching people ignore
the warning signs and walk beyond the barriers: wanting to sit on the
cliff's edge; needing to take a selfie against the dangerous backdrop;
walking along the fragile surface that had evident cracks where rock
would eventually tumble into the ocean.
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| How do we respond to the warning signs in our lives? (Can you see the warning pylons at the cliff's edge?) |
How
easy it is to ignore the warning signs that sediment and erosion creates in our
lives: the lies that unfold; the truths untold; the fragile natures of
our relationships when we no longer trust. Do we ignore the layers of buildup over the years? Are we afraid to acknowledge that the sediment in our lives needs to be removed?
What causes us to not pay attention to the warning signs in our lives:
- Misunderstanding what another person says... and not asking questions?
- Seeing looks of frustration or anger... and not checking in?
- Mistrusting other people's intentions or motives... and not caring?
Walking along the cliffs of my life, I oftentimes am taken in by moments that attract or distract me. I don't always pull back and notice the barriers or signs that alert me to other views.
I am wondering: What do you focus on? How do you respond to warnings? Is there a way to balance misunderstandings and mistrust with a wider view of truth and beauty?
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| Larry Gardepie (click on link for website) |
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