Yesterday was Monday 11th February. We went to a beautiful beach in north Goa called Aswem. It's hard to describe--like a large cove surrounded by palm trees, with a small lagoon that fills with water at high tide. It was a great "small pool" for children and there were lots playing around.
I finally made it back into the sea. For the past week the seas have been rough and waves too strong. It seems the weather was unusual, perhaps affected by the tsunami in the Solomon Islands? It seems odd that an event so far away would impact the tides here, but there's definitely been something to cause the surf to be so high. It's still been hot and sunny though, no worries about that.
In any case, thankfully for our very last day at the beach we could both enjoy the water. (As I write this, we're about to eat lunch and get the taxi to Goa airport to start the return journey. So that's why it was our last day at the beach.)
The seas are now much calmer and I got to ride my little waves again. And continuing the theme of waves being symbolic of grief...here's another thought.
Most of the waves were quite manageable for me, but once in a while one would come that was just too big for me to paddle or jump. Simon, knowing how I hate getting submerged by salty sea water, started lifting me up over the waves when they were too big for me.
Hands on my waist, he thrust me up so my head was more or less above the water.
And the words of an old gospel song came to mind:
"Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me."
And I thought about those painful moments when the grief is overwhelming. That's what I need at those times, the strong hands of love to lift me above so that I don't drown. God, hold me in your hands, lift me up.
----------------
I couldn't remember the rest of the song, but I just googled it.--And guess what, the "love lifted me" refrain comes from a song about the sea.
I finally made it back into the sea. For the past week the seas have been rough and waves too strong. It seems the weather was unusual, perhaps affected by the tsunami in the Solomon Islands? It seems odd that an event so far away would impact the tides here, but there's definitely been something to cause the surf to be so high. It's still been hot and sunny though, no worries about that.
In any case, thankfully for our very last day at the beach we could both enjoy the water. (As I write this, we're about to eat lunch and get the taxi to Goa airport to start the return journey. So that's why it was our last day at the beach.)
The seas are now much calmer and I got to ride my little waves again. And continuing the theme of waves being symbolic of grief...here's another thought.
Most of the waves were quite manageable for me, but once in a while one would come that was just too big for me to paddle or jump. Simon, knowing how I hate getting submerged by salty sea water, started lifting me up over the waves when they were too big for me.
Hands on my waist, he thrust me up so my head was more or less above the water.
And the words of an old gospel song came to mind:
"Love lifted me, love lifted me, when nothing else could help, love lifted me."
And I thought about those painful moments when the grief is overwhelming. That's what I need at those times, the strong hands of love to lift me above so that I don't drown. God, hold me in your hands, lift me up.
----------------
I couldn't remember the rest of the song, but I just googled it.--And guess what, the "love lifted me" refrain comes from a song about the sea.
"But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I."
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I."
---------------------
Here's the original.
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling
In His blessèd presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.
In His blessèd presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.
Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
(James Rowe, 1912)
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