Tethered to His Mast: His Nightsong
“When God
tells you to be brave, he will make it work. It won’t be perfect. It won’t be
easy. But it will be your story and your best story.” - Annie F. Downs
“She walks in grace and dignity. She
laughs without fear of the future.” – Proverbs 31:25
I have a
warrior heart! The women who speak my language are ones with the air of
adventure about them. I love the scene in Lord
of the Rings: Return of the King where Eowyn kills The Nazgul. You can see
the terror and fear in her eyes. Yet, there is something deeper. She is a
protector, a warrior, and her bravery is unmatched. In fantasy I live with that
depth of bravery.
In reality…well…I
long to be brave! I really do. There are times when my timidity gets the better
of me and I cow under fear. The reality is muddier than fantasy.
God calls us
to be brave in the midst of our den of lions, raging fires, giants, turbulent storms,
high seas, and burning bushes. The beauty is He never asks us to do it alone.
He stands with us in the midst of our ‘valley of the shadow of death’. As grace
is, so is bravery – manna. It cannot be stored, but is given new when we step
out to receive it, and not a moment before.
About a week
before I went to Florida my Dad purchased tickets to take us Zip Lining. It
would be he and his three daughters. Mom thought we all were utterly insane,
and contented herself with eating breakfast and making friends at the Lodge.
My sister,
Meredith, was light and effervescence that day! She was literally described as
a “tree elf”! She would zip along laughing and giggling – a child’s delight in
adventure. It was completely infectious. She encouraged everyone else who was
nervous or scared. My breath was taken away at how beautiful and free she was
in that moment. She was an ‘other worldly’ being that day.
I, however,
was not! I did zip line, and loved it. I had anxiety thinking about it
afterwards, but I loved it! I hate that the video taken of me showed a girl
tight and drawn in. I go inward. I dig deep down in myself. I become a stoic
wall. In my heart, each level of line brought more joy out of me, but my face
rarely showed the truth. I longed to join my sister in her freedom. I was
learning to be brave…
I am used to
doing things by myself. Don’t get me wrong, I love hanging out with friends,
being a part of other narratives. Still, I really enjoy going to restaurants or
the movies, even taking mini vacations by myself. So, when my heart leapt at
the thought of going for a night walk on the beach, I just assumed I would
figure out how to go by myself. It was an utterly silly notion after all. I had
been on the beach before the sun crested the horizon. There were many molten
sunsets witnessed. The one thing I had never done was take a night walk on the
beach. It was an adventure I was timid in sharing. What if everyone thought me
ridiculous?
I mumbled my
desire of adventure to Tamera. She asked if Abby and she could go with me,
unless I wanted to go by myself.
In that
moment it was hard not to think of David’s strong warrior men. You know the
guys; the ones who were willing to go into enemy territory to quench his thirst. A cup of water offered to a war torn soul
humbles, heals, and loosens binds:
David was then in the stronghold,
while the garrison of the Philistines was
then in Bethlehem. David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me
water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” So the three
broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of
Bethlehem which was by the
gate, and took it and brought it to David; nevertheless David would
not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD; - 1 Chronicles 11: 16-18
I had begun
to worship in that moment. Giddiness and hope bubbled, and I knew I was in for
an adventure like no other.
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| The beginning of our walk! |
The night
sky was transcendent. I don’t know how God continually creates masterpieces.
His handiwork is a grand gesture of His providence in our lives. It displays
His hand and control of this grand world.
Immediately,
Tamera – lover of the sea, shell collector – found a grand shell. It was black
knobbed with a shock of glistening silver turquoise underneath. The treasure
captured, we began to walk further along the shore. A beautiful woman saw
Tamera’s shell and commented that she had found one as well. A common thread of
familiar need and expectant joy, but there was to be more. God in His wisdom
speaks to us. He uses specific small moments to flood our hearts with the joy
He has for us. He sends people, strangers, from wondrous far off lands to speak
truth in our hearts. It staggers me at times how He does this.
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| One of the most beautiful parts of the sunset! |
The woman we
met on the beach that night spoke with a cadence from another land. A land
filled with mystery and magic. Tamera asked where she was from…Ireland.
Ireland
speaks to Tamera. The culture and the land match her hearts rhythm perfectly.
It is, in fact, a desire of hers to go to Ireland.
God is so
tender and intimate with us. He cares to give us JOY! He cares about our
dreams. In conversation this lovely woman spoke a truth to Tamera’s heart! Set
a date – you will go! (There is more to this story. It is Tamera’s story and
maybe she will share it.)
We gathered
ourselves together and continued to walk. Abby and I had worn summer dresses.
The waves pulled and tugged at my hem as I walked on broken shell and sand. We
walked and walked and walked! I knew at some point we would have to turn
around. Yet, the sun kept setting. I did not want to let it go! I wanted to
chase it!
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| The stopping point! |
Finally, I
slowed. I stopped. I knew we could go no further, but I just couldn’t turn
back. I turned my face to the light, drinking it in! It does not go quietly. We
do not go quietly.
Abby asked
if we could pray. This beautiful woman with a heart for the Lord brought us
around to the Maker of this wonderment.
So it came about when Moses held his
hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek
prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under
him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side
and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set… - Exodus
17: 11-12
We stood
there, Aaron and Hur’s, holding each other’s arms up! As the tide washed over
bare toes, phones and keys stuffed in bras, we prayed. We prayed and praised –
giving honor and glory to His Majesty – for what was, what is, and what is to
come! God loves to hear His promises spoken back to Him. It fills his heart
with brilliant joy! We communed with the creator of this masterpiece. God the
Father, Jesus Christ our Lord! We were in the midst of His element.
He knew
coastal living! He rescued His disciples from rough waters. He not only caused
the sun to rise and set over oceans deep, but he viewed them as well. I wonder
if he watched the sun peak over the horizon, cascading jeweled light over the
Galilean Sea, as He prayed for His people – as He prayed for us – those he was
with and those to come! Selah!
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| I was determined to capture our night walk! |
My prayer in
the midst of the storm, when life simply becomes too much pain and hard edges, is
that He will be my night song. He would sing over me as Zephaniah said. The
melody would make me brave; walk on the waves with Him brave!
You thrill me, Lord, with all you
have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. – Psalm 92:4
*On the way
back there was childlike wonder! A moment. A dare. I am quiet and often
reserved, but it is rare for me not to giddily take on a dare especially if it
holds some ‘childlike wonder’. Tamera dared Abby and I to run into a strangers
tent, and she would take a picture. (It was a little Hobbit tent too, which was
utterly awesome!) We, of course, did it! I can just imagine our Heavenly Father
throwing His head back in laughter at His children in that very moment!!!
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| The joyous afterglow of being in His light! |
- So This Is Joy
- Lighthouses
Tamera is also writing about this vacation in a wonderful series entitled: Treasure Hunting. You can find it in her Chambers section at: Seventy Palms
Here is a beautiful song by Ellie Holcomb called Night Song!
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