This vacation has been so amazing. Discovering relaxation at a deeper level has been a true blessing. However, the two most amazing parts of this beach vacation has been the breath taking sunrises and the boogie boarding. However, when it comes to playing in the ocean there is a big drawback: salt water. Nothing burns the eyes like it. Knowing this would be a concern I was sure to bring goggles. While tossing Leila about in the early moments of the first day in the water, my goggles were knocked off and quickly swallowed up by the first in a series of unrelenting waves, making it darn near impossible to locate and retrieve.
Nevertheless my search began. I found myself slowly wandering the radius of my last known location in the ocean, using my feet as goggle detectors. Just a couple of minutes in, I realized that playtime in the water was quickly becoming stressed searching time. Upon this epiphany I resigned myself to the fact that I had lost them and that the remainder of my experience would have to be enjoyed without the aid of goggles. I told the Lord that they were His goggles again and I would not give away my joy as well.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” ~Jim Elliot
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” ~Matthew 16:25 NIV
As the rest of the morning unfolded, I never did get the goggles back. Funny enough, I found two other pair of goggles.
I mean, really? I found not one, but two pair of goggles. Not only is this unlikely, but almost impossible.
“So what,” you might ask…
In finding the second pair of goggles, I handed them to a friend for safe keeping and found myself saying what I usually say before I discover new blog material, “There’s a biblical principle in there.”
And yes there is…
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full–pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” ~Luke 6:38 NIV
When we give and give freely, we are rewarded so conspicuously. I truly had no expectation of finding my goggles, but I spent a bit of time searching for that needle in this salty haystack. Upon my giving up on the goggles and releasing their hold on my afternoon, I had a double blessing laid in my lap. Actually, literally at my feet. I never actually used either pair of found goggles, but I definitely was invigorated by another sign of the Lord’s affection that they represented.
What are you grasping at today? What are you breaking your back to find.? Is it a needle in a haystack?
I am not going to tell you to quit looking. I won’t be the one to tell you to give up your dream.
I will tell you to be conscious of what you are doing. What do your actions say about Jesus? Do they amplify the glory you’ve found in Him? Do they steal away your joy? Do they assure you of the hand that Jesus has in your life?