Beach Life

I spent a few days with some clergy friends at the beach this week. I always consider these retreats as more necessary for my friends than for myself. Inevitably, I find out that I needed those days more than I realized.

What is it about the beach that provides healing for the soul? It's not the tanning power of the sun, since my kind of tan (a bright red color) is more trouble than therapy. Perhaps some is people watching; we quickly discover that there are more average people than magazine models sharing the sand with us. When the beach is pretty deserted, though, the healing power is still there.

I was walking the beach by myself a few days ago, just before sunset. The waves came rushing in from far, far away. The ocean seemed to have no end. The sky was a rich blue, no clouds in sight. The healing I felt was from my recognizing the presence of God.

Can a person get the same therapy from spending time in the mountains? Maybe. I think some find it in biking, or hiking, or even on long drives by themselves. Some, I think, have found similar healing in staying at home.

Need some healing? "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10