Like my dad, I am a girl who is drawn to water, whether it be the ocean or bay, a lake, or a river. Dad served as a merchant seaman in World War II...quite a change of scenery from the western North Dakota prairies where he grew up. He came to love the seas and often drew our family back to the beach for vacations, whether it be Rio de Janeiro, Ocean Shores, or Whidbey Island. Sometimes Dad would quote a line from John Masefield's poem, "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by...". Dad later wrote an article about the call of the sea where he said, "But in countless days and nights of communion with the open sky and sea, the essence of it all became a part of him." In the later years of his life, Dad spent hours scouring the beaches on Whidbey Island, looking for that interesting piece of driftwood to carve into a sculpture.

Well, I guess somehow his love of the seas was passed on to me and when I feel like I need a break, I am drawn to the beach. As I walk along the sand, take a swim, or just quietly gaze at the water, my soul is refreshed and renewed.

We recently took a break from the cloudy grey skies in the Northwest to spend a few days in the Caribbean at the Turks and Caicos Islands. Though I have visited many beaches, the color of the water was the prettiest I have ever seen and truly matched the name of the resort, "Turkoise." From the color of the water to the softness of the sand, from the gentle sea breeze to the breathtaking sunsets, I was enthralled and amazed once again at the majesty of our Creator. Psalm 69:34 says, "Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moves therein." Who but He could have created such beauty?

Years ago, I read Gift from the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I loved some of her words about the sea, such as, "Patience...is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea." She returned from her two weeks at the beach with shells...to remind her of the wisdom she gained from her time there. I, too, often return with shells...simply to remind me of the beauty.