Below the Surface

Everyone of us wants to rest on a distant foreign beach that is isolated, quiet and stunning. You can be so captivated by the beauty that you will wish to stay for an extended time. 

This is how I felt when we arrived at Little Cay in the Caribbean back in 2004. The sun seemed brilliant with a deep blue sky. The water was various shades of blue and crystal clear. The stars were so numerous that it was difficult to find an open spot in the night sky.

I thought to myself that it doesn’t get any better than this. I love the crisp fresh air with no pressure for meetings, programs, events and phone calls. Here there are no deadlines for projects and no interruptions from the busy world. For the first time in many years I felt no mental pressure to accomplish another goal.

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We hung hammocks between the trees and began the decompression from life in the fast lane. I took a book long since set aside and began to read. It felt like bliss.

Then Cathy and I began walking in the water and noticed the world under the surface. The water was captivating but I had no idea the beauty that was just below the surface. Snorkeling was the ticket! 

The first glance below the surface was unbelievable. I could clearly see fish, coral and a world I was not familiar with. We would see a parrot fish to the right, barracuda to the left, tangs all around us.

God’s glory circled us in the ocean. But the beauty was far beyond stunning. I am not sure that words are adequate to describe all that we saw.

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We spent many hours in the water exploring a fresh new world to us. It seemed that crabs, lobster, fish and octopus were all around us. How could I have missed all this for so long? What causes us to get so captivated by busyness that we miss the intricacy, simplicity and wonder of God’s creation?

I have to admit that it is not hard to do. We find ourselves too busy to go below the surface with our spouse. We find ourselves consumed in serving Jesus and not sitting at His feet. Our lives in the twenty-first century are going at a lightning pace. Life is such a blur that many things only capture our attention after we pass by. It is like riding a horse backwards.

Take a moment today to take a deep breath. Look around at your life. Where are you missing it? Don’t surface later in life and realize that you have missed the best God has to offer. You should make the choice between good. . .better. . .and best. 

Jesus said, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. (1)

Cathy and Danny Sartin

www.deeperstillmissions.com

(1) The Holy Bible: New International Version. Electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Luke 10:42b

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