Glendale Church of the Brethren

© Photo taken on Mother’s Day at Point Mugu by Pastor John JacksonTwo things I want you to notice about this photograph.  In fact, it might be best if you “double click” on the photo to see it enlarged after you have read this first paragraph.  First, notice the “dirty wave” that is coming ashore.  Obviously it is filled with sand.  Now look at the black rock in the foreground, it is sticking up a two feet out of the sand.   Now listen to this…when I was at this same spot in January of this year that same rock was taller then me!So in the time from January to May the waves have brought ashore an enormous amount of sand and have almost buried the rock!  Now an expert in physics would be able to talk to you about wave action and how this has all occurred, I however see a metaphor here.I have been out to Pont Mugu many times and I have to tell you, I have never seen a wave that is able to “break” or erode a rock.  Now I know it happens over eons of time, but in my brief life, it would be hardly measurable.   Yet what the waves cannot move or break apart it instead buries in a few short weeks. Now my guess is that the wave action will change with the seasons (Seasons? California?? Really???) and eventually it could un-bury the rock.Guess what?  You and I have some pretty heavy hard rocks in our lives that we would like moved out of the way.  Yet, one life time seems hardly enough time to deal with these boulders of our existence.   Our efforts can seem fruitless.However, we can take a lesson from the waves, that which we cannot move, we can bury.   We can say good bye to a painful past, broken relationships, a shattered dream, deep grief and cover it with God’s love.  I know, I know, in the Bible the Rock has positive connotation referring  to God, Christ, and the Church and Sand has a negative connotation like the foolish man who built his house in sand.  However, here I am using imagery from the 23rd Psalm”My cup over flows and surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”Just as the over flowing sand buried the rock, so can God’s mercy and goodness overflow the pain in our lives.  Once we have been covered with God’s blessings, that “rocks” of our lives seem hardly so important. Addendum:  By the way there is a connection here to mother’s day.  Have you ever remembered what it was like to run to your mother crying when you had a “boo boo?”  Then your mom hug you and kiss the pain away til you were feeling comforted and the tears stopped. Peace,Pastor John