Something about the sand

Busyness is a dangerous thing.
"Relax~ refresh . . . Go on vacation", they say.
It was wonderful to get away; not easy to be "unplugged" but oh, so necessary. The early mornings called me to the sea to walk alone and listen for the still, small voice of God . True refreshment happened there. Not in the normal trappings of "vacation", but in the tuned-in time I spent totally focused on what God is doing in my life these days, and what he might be saying to me. I was reminded of my desire to make a difference in the world and to keep that purpose in mind as I pursued the goals before me. It is so easy to lose sight of the very thing God keeps putting before me as I am so busy doing the "stuff" that needs to be done.
And so I retreat~for me the definition of "retreat" is to come apart from the things of the world and seek the face of God; to listen to his voice and be refreshed by his presence.
Sometimes the presence of God is like the sand. It rubs away the outer layer to bring forth what's underneath. In an oyster, a simple grain of sand can produce a pearl! I think God allows these grains of sand into my heart so that I will grow as a result of my mistakes and learn how to use the very things that irritate me to produce something of value. It isn't easy to find the value in the painful processes of life, but the promise of the pearl keeps me going. Only God can take something like a grain of sand and make a pearl of it.