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i like long walks on the beach
Psalms 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters

One of my favorite places to read a book, write in my journal, or talk casually with God is Grand Haven State Park Beach, especially during the evening right before sunset.  I remember one specific evening there summer of 2019 when I am relaxing on my beach chair under a beach umbrella about 20 feet from the shoreline.  To my side is a cooler filled with lemonade and snack or two, a book, and my writing journal.  The sun is hot, but that is okay because there is a cool and refreshing breeze sailing out of the west over the unsalted freshwater of Lake Michigan. ​

The daytime sky is a vibrant sapphire blue, cloudless expanse and time feels at a standstill.  As day heads toward evening the colors of the sky begin their transition in preparation for sunset.  The anticipation of the illuminating pier lights along the steel catwalk and the red rotating lights glowing through the Fresnel lenses in each of the lighthouses grows by the minute.  The waves emit a slow swooshing vibe onto the shore, retrieving back with a bubbly, fizzy sound that soda pop makes when poured it into a glass.  It is a perfect and memorable summer evening at the beach.

I am reading Psalms 23, and as soon as I read the words in verse 2, "he leads me beside quiet waters," I look up toward the sunset and am immediately captivated by the silhouettes of people enjoying their walk on the beach.  Some walk alone and some as couples holding hands.  My favorite are the one's walking their unleashed dogs that appear to be running in five different directions at the same time, running in and out of the waves, chasing seagulls, and barking in pure K-9 exhilaration.   ​

The words of Psalms 23:2 and the walking silhouettes could not have been more perfectly timed than on that evening of summer 2019.  So many people like long walks on the beach.  I believe that God likes longs walks on the beach.  I know that I do.  If I had a dating profile, long walks on the beach would be at the top of my list, as cliche as that sounds. ​

I believe that God lures me to the beach, away from the chaos and distractions of life because the beach is where we have our most meaningful talks.  The beach is where I can chat about life, vent, cry, and then listen to what He will say that always puts me back together or leads me in the right direction.  At the end of the evening...after the sun has set, I leave feeling clear-minded, inspired, hopeful, and a bit more healed.  As I walk back to my Jeep, I keep looking back at the water and at the South Pier...and thank God for a nice long walk on the beach.