New Smyrna Beach

The idea that God is interested in knowing us rather than interested in whatever gift, talent or ability that we have to bring to his table causes me to think back to this past Saturday afternoon at New Smyrna Beach.

My kids are currently on Spring Break  and needless to say, that means that I am on a bit of a break from routine, too.  Suddenly, there are trips to the store, rides to and from friends, rides for friends and basically just a great deal of additional coming and going happening in our home.

Saturday was a little out of the ordinary in that at around two thirty in the afternoon, Sydney didn't have the next eight to ten hours booked with endless friends and activities.  It was unusually calm and days before, she and I had talked about wanting to get some serious beach time in during the break, so seizing this opportunity, Sydney and I headed to New Smyrna Beach for what was left of the afternoon.

I knew it would be busier than usual, what with Spring Break and all of the tourists and such, but I hadn't anticipated the amount of traffic we experienced.  Both ways, to and from the beach were slow going, which surprisingly, wasn't all that aggravating to me.

On the way to the beach, we listened to a new mixed CD she'd put together for us and laughed at all of the unusual sounds she'd compiled.  On the way home, we continued our conversation that we'd had walking along the somewhat chilly shoreline, flip flops in hand.

We discussed what I've been blogging about and I was able to share with her how much closer I feel I've come to God over the last twenty or so days because of the prayer blogging.  We talked about what I had written that day regarding forgiving our neighbor for the sadness he created and I told her how God had made it clear to me that I had to be free of the grudge I'd not entirely been owning.  I explained how much lighter I felt inside for having given that burden to God.  Even as I talked about it with her, my spirit felt lighter than it had in years.

The beauty of the beach was expected and obvious, I mean, who doesn't look out into sky so blue and endless ocean and feel at least a little taste of awe and wonder?  The beauty I found in the time talking with my daughter that afternoon amazingly out shined the majestic sunlight dancing on the glistening water.

As we talked and talked and talked some more, I could see Sydney taking in the things that I shared with her about God loving us and wanting time with us more than anything else.  I saw her ponder the confession I shared about that grudge and I could tell that everything that I had said registered with her on a level that I'm not sure I've ever witnessed before.

While sitting in that traffic of confused tourists trying to find their way, our continuing conversation led us to an awesome God who deeply loves us, who longs to personally know us just as we are.  In our conversation sitting in tourist traffic, I believe that the God who created all we had just enjoyed at the beach joined us on that journey home and absolutely delighted in the time we shared.

Dear God,

It's hard to describe how closely I felt you on our ride home from the beach the other day.  It was so interesting as I could see that my daughter was listening with a new intensity and I was was talking with a new freedom.

I've known you all of my life and I cannot begin to count how many times I've felt your undeniable love and kindness, but right now, during this journey of blogged conversational prayer, you are closer to my heart than you've ever been and I can sense your continued closeness in even my most mundane tasks.  Because I am asking you to be in my day and be in the lives of those I love and to show us your desires  for us and lead us to a closer relationship with you, you are here and I can't even tell you how good it is to know that you are so near!

There is an old song that we use to sing in church when I was growing up that said you are as close as the mention of your name, and as I call out to you in prayer, I find that song to be one hundred percent true.

I call and you answer.  I ask for you to show your love to my family and draw them into a new and more intimate relationship with you and before my eyes I see your miraculous hand in doing just that.

I know that I cannot manipulate the clock in regard to how, when or where you will further establish your rightful place in the lives of those I love and care about, but I know that you have heard my prayer and that you are active in the hearts of those I pray for even when I am unable to notice.

So, today I come to you and tell you that I trust you in a more tangible way than I ever have before.  I trust you and I am in awe that you love me this much.  I am humbled, God, because I know nothing I do and nothing I can become will ever be deserving of this incredible gift of love that you've lavished on me.  You love me so much because you are God and greater love has no man, than you.

Before I close in prayer, I ask that you draw me even closer because the more of you that I get to enjoy, the more of you I want.

I also ask that for all of the people who stay away from you because they honestly and truly feel they have walked too far away or believe that they have nothing to offer you and deem themselves unworthy, please God, oh please, let them sense in their heart that you love them exactly as they are and that nothing would make you happier than for them to ask for you to be with them, just like you are here with me, right now.