Tempest Tossed

I was at Galveston on Thursday and took this picture of the Pelicans balancing themselves on the waves that were crashing against the rocks.  The weather was overcast and cool. The winds were high and my hairspray was no match for them.

Maybe you feel like that pelican being tossed and pitched around by the high water.  How does one keep a balance when life is uncertain and complicated?  How do you find the energy to pull up out of the surf and rise above the stormy sea?

There are many avenues one can take when life is out of balance.  Just watch Jerry Springer or Dr. Phil or Oprah or any talk show from 9 am to 5 pm each day.  Pull up any number of sights on the internet.  Grab a bottle of pills or any other substance.  (I found that coca cola was even addictive and not good for my overall health.  It was totally a lifestyle change when water became my beverage of choice).

Utube is a wonderful escape for me.  I can pull up Ricky Nelson (who I loved) and the Gospel voices that I was brought up on.  I found an audio of my mom singing when she was a young woman on a radio show.  I can listen to the Gaithers, Amy Grant, LoveSong, Michael W. Smith...all of the voices that influenced me from my young years until now. 

When I couldn't concentrate on reading, I found a Bible app that had audio.  It will read to me and I can hear again the Scriptures that were meaningful and helped me find the balance I needed to make sense of the storms that kept coming when I was a caregiver.

Life is precarious, but such an adventure.  I can say that I am much better prepared for a hurricane or tornado that might hit my family.  I can also say that I have found the safety of my faith and the memories of God's defining protection for me and the ones I cared for.  I am better able to bob in the waves because I know the storm will pass and the water will calm down.  Like this pelican did, I will return to the sky!

Jer. 29:11