Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Proverbs 30:5 (04/20/23)
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TITLE: Perfect Words for a Sheltering Experience | Previous Challenge Entry
By Barbara Culler
04/26/23 -
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Shouting over her shoulder, my friend admonished into the wind: “You’re SUPPOSED to row the same time I am.”
“I AAMMM!” Teeth clenched in agitation, my eye-rolled response included bellyflopping the paddle onto the watery surface. Liquid ice splashed onto my bare knees.
Despite the shower of seawater, I felt hot. And cranky. Both arms throbbing from the exertion, I regretted attempting this never-kayaked-before adventure. Here I was, a middle-aged woman sitting behind this friend old enough to be my mother. In the ocean. What were we thinking?
After a few false starts, we finally synchronized our rowing motions. The vessel lunged in the intended direction. However, traveling in the cruising lane of the marina was not a good idea. Tightly gripping the paddle, my heart rapidly pulsated in my ears as we dodged speeding sailboats and pompous yachts blaring rock and roll.
“Oh God, protect us from the behemoths barging around us.”
Escaping the marina traffic, we traversed the narrow bay toward a sandspit fronting the great rock. A white mist rolled in; the coolness felt soothing, fanning the sweat beading on my face. Land ho! Sighing in relief, we beached the boat in water-logged sand. Feeling shaky upon disembarking, I shook out strained biceps and stiffened fingers. All tension left my body as I inhaled the moist salty air. Raising my arms above my head, I cheered into the foggy sky: “Thank you, Jesus.”
Squawks and shrill cries resounded in response as peregrine falcons and cormorants scavenged for their next meal. While eyeing our surroundings, goosebumps of awe prickled on my arms. Towering Morro Rock, silhouetted against the milky sky, seemed alive — teaming with a melting pot of sea fowl circling and sheltering in its crevices. The massive black rock, frosted with droppings in shades of ivory, served as a sanctuary for many life forms. Little brown bunnies hopped around in the volcanic plug’s stoney and grassy base as fat tawny squirrels played peek-a-boo with children holding out peanuts.
This ancient volcanic relic functioned like a fortress, inhibiting land erosion and shielding living creatures from the elements. A jetty, constructed from raven-colored boulders piled atop one another, jutted out from Morro’s foundation and surrounding breakwater.
Six-foot waves crashed against the boulders, splashing high into the air before disintegrating into a sizzling splat on the rocks. A lone sentry-- a miniature lighthouse at the end of the jetty, sounded a mournful cry, warning mariners of pending danger. Playful sea otters floated and frolicked in the offshore kelp garden as Connie and I walked alongside Morro Rock. We felt protected from the wind and now-present sun.
Seated on a dry boulder in the shadow of the rock, I gazed out to sea, pondering the words of the Psalm where David writes:
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my savior, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2 NASB.
Those faultless words were a comfort to David, recorded for future generations. They seemed a perfect analogy with this great rock serving as a refuge for wildlife. Like the timeworn landmark at Morro Bay deflecting the wind and surf while protecting its inhabitants, God’s salvation is my defense against an eternity in hell. And a refuge during the tempests of this world.
Not exactly facing a fiery abyss, that verse comforted me as we tackled the not-so-fun return trip with the kayak. Despite understanding how to control the boat, our fatigue and the need to row against the current proved challenging and tested our faith. But God protected us. And Connie and I survived with our friendship still intact.
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” Proverbs 35 ESB
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Nicely done,
Blessings~