Down by the sea

Margaret Griffin-Ward

During the years of my secondary schooling in the country I had to combine studies with supporting my mother, who helped my father run a business while raising six children, of which I am the eldest. Consequently my homework and examination study were done rather late in the evening or early in the morning.

On these latter occasions I would often go outside to watch the sun rise. My then developing spirituality enabled me to reflect on the glory of God as I watched the changing colours of the sky and listened to the morning songs of the birds.

After leaving school to commence teacher training, I boarded at beachside Glenelg in South Australia for some of the time. Then the sunsets became my source of wonder, especially as they were viewed on the horizon of the ocean.

Throughout my life the sea has been a place of reflection on the wonder and grandeur of God’s creation. Holidays near the sea provide an opportunity for such reflection, especially when the sunset or sunrise can be viewed also. The glorious colours in the western sky above the horizon at Fisherman’s Bay, near Port Broughton, can be seen from the kitchen window of my sister’s holiday house which she makes available to her extended family for holidays or weekends.

During these times I also reflect on the great human achievements in science, medicine and technology, and marvel at the human intellect that can achieve so much in these areas. To me, however, all these wonders are insignificant when the glory of God’s creation, of which human intellect is of course an aspect, is considered.

It is not only the wonder of human life and the marvels of nature that enthral me. As I watch the rolling waves and listen to the roar of the surf, I experience a sense of timelessness. I know that the sun sets on the sorrows, doubts and fears of today, but it will rise again for a new day of hope, faith and love.

When the soul is troubled, a period of reflection by the sea can enable us to commune with our Creator and resume our daily lives with a renewed spirituality. Once again we can see the Spirit of God in all those with whom we travel, in the footstep of Jesus, on the journey towards eternal life.