Stillness

 

Photo by Laurie Collett 2025

Recently my husband and I were blessed to have a midweek escape for a few days at our favorite beach getaway. Even better, we felt as if we had the privacy of being castaways on our own deserted island, yet with all the comforts of home.

In the quiet fall season, after families on summer vacation leave the island, and before “snowbirds” come for the warm Florida weather, the beach is relatively quiet. But today it is empty, save for the two of us, a few nesting shore birds, a great blue heron surveying the coast, and a lone osprey circling overhead. The weather is perfect, sunny and warm but not humid, with an occasional refreshing ocean breeze. The sky is a soothing shade of robin's egg blue, with a few feathery clouds scattered artistically about.

But most astounding to me is the ocean, as smooth as glass, except for a few lacy ripples along the shoreline. The sun sparkles on the calm surface, silvery light streaking through the azure water in an intricate pattern.

The last time I remember it being this still was just over one year ago, on our last visit of the season before the devastation of Hurricanes Milton and Helene. The island took a direct hit in both storms, but thankfully no one was harmed.

 Although it was a great blessing that the beachfront homes (on stilts) remained structurally sound, everything underneath washed away – decks, stairs, air conditioners, sheds, golf carts, electrical and plumbing lines all gone overnight, as well as the community pool house.

Initially there was no power or phone service and the roads were impassable. Checking on damage had to be done by drone images or by climbing a very tall ladder to enter the house. For six months after the storms, the homes were not habitable because there was no sewer.

Thankfully, however, most homes are now repaired and insurance has covered a large part of the expense. Yet today as I view the stillness of the ocean, I pray that this is not the calm before the storm, as this year’s hurricane season has six weeks remaining.

Just as I had experienced on the last visit before last year’s hurricanes, the stillness today is such a welcome respite from the busyness and turmoil of daily life. We need to come apart with God (Mark 6:31), away from the world’s distractions, temptations, and discord, just as Jesus did even during the busiest times of His ministry (Matthew 14:23). We need to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

Activity, even potentially beneficial activity such as serving in church or volunteer work for a good cause, is no substitute for spiritual growth. Such growth cannot occur without quiet time dedicated to knowing Jesus Christ better and to worshipping Him. We cannot forsake prayer, Bible study, and faithful attendance to corporate worship and to Christian fellowship without drifting away from God, no matter how sincere our motives in other aspects of Christian service (Hebrews 10:25).

We must be like Mary, sitting at Jesus’ feet and learning from His Word, and not like her sister Martha, too caught up in busyness and in serving to worship Him. We must choose quiet fellowship with Him, as did Mary, over being burdened and anxious about “Christian” activity (Luke 10:38-42).

The stillness we experience when alone with God may allow us to recover from intense spiritual warfare, or to prepare us for physical or emotional trials or spiritual battles to come. Both were the case with the prophet Elijah after God gave him a great victory against the false prophets of Baal. The one true God poured out fire on the soggy altar and brought torrential rain in the prolonged drought, then Elijah slew all of Baal’s prophets with a sword. Yet he was ready to give up and even asked God to take his life when the evil queen Jezebel threatened to kill him (1 Kings 18-19).

But God knew exactly what Elijah needed. He led him to a shady spot under a juniper tree to sleep. God then sent him an angel who told him to eat and drink, giving him a freshly baked cake and water. After a second night’s sleep, the angel again gave him food and water, which sustained him for a 40 day-and-night journey to Horeb, the mount of God. There God spoke to Elijah, not in the strong wind, earthquake or fire He first showed Elijah, but in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:4-12). God then gave Elijah clear instructions regarding His plan for him.

Often we find the stillness to be calming and restorative. Yet at other times, we may grow impatient, wrongly perceiving that God is ignoring us or delaying His response to our prayers.

As my husband and I stroll along the deserted beach, we realize that the still waters allow us a glimpse of life and activity teeming beneath the surface, which are usually invisible in the ocean waves. First we notice schools of tiny silver-green fish along the shore, darting this way and that. Then pairs or triplets of gray fish, about the length of my hand, playfully switching positions.

To our surprise and delight, the ocean is so calm that we spot an 18-inch fish, gray with yellow-tipped fins and black markings on the underside.  It swims steadily alongside us as we walk, occasionally darting at great speed through a swarm of smaller fish, causing them to scatter.  Soon we realize that our ocean friend is not alone, as similar fish appear nearby.

“All we’re missing now to complete this picture is a dolphin,” my husband said.

As if on cue, a large black fin and curved gray body of a graceful dolphin appeared, barely emerging from the water, diving below the surface, then reappearing some distance away!

It reminds me that God is always at work for our ultimate good and His glory, even when we don’t perceive His plan to work all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  We don't see the myriad species and the flurry of activity in the ocean when choppy waves distort the surface -- we need the stillness to see what lies beneath. Nor can we appreciate or understand God's plan for us if we are too distracted by the clamor of the world, our own desires, and even our own activity, whether or not such activity seems to be productive or done in His service.

Once we become God's children by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), we can have faith that He will lead us beside the still waters and restore our soul (Psalm 23:2-3).

He may do this to allow us to recover from intense spiritual warfare or to prepare us for the next spiritual victory, for we know that the battle is the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47), and that the victory is certain through His Son! (1 Corinthians 15:57).

May we thank God for the rare periods of stillness in our lives when we can most clearly hear His voice and perceive His perfect plan for us. May we deliberately seek out quiet time with Him, hear His still, small voice, and seek His face through prayer, studying His Word, and praising and worshipping Him alone and with fellow believers!

Copyright 2025 Laurie Collett

Headwinds

 

One afternoon while my husband was working on post-hurricane repairs at our vacation home, I decided to walk the beach. The outside temperature was 72 degrees; sunlight was reflected in gleaming silvery streaks moving with the rolling waves; and a few lacy clouds dotted the ombre sky, resplendent in tones ranging from aqua to robin’s egg to royal blue, and even a hint of cobalt.

The local air force brigade, as we affectionately refer to the native pelicans, passed overhead in precise military formation. An auspicious beginning to my afternoon stroll, or so I thought. On our morning walk, my husband and I had set out toward the nature preserve in search of shells and fossils, so I decided to walk the opposite direction along the shore to see what treasures I might find there.

But as soon as I began walking down the beach, the idyllic experience became an unexpected challenge. I was attempting to walk straight into the wind, hanging onto my hat to prevent losing it in the surf. The wind rushing into my face took my breath away. The ground stretching out before me was reminiscent of photos of the Sahara Desert, as the air currents had shaped the sand into furrows, and streams of sand hovered a few inches over the surface, perpendicular to the uncharacteristically hilly terrain. Thankfully, I was wearing long pants and sneakers, or the streams of sand propelled by the wind would have blasted my ankles!

When the hope of gathering a few beach treasures and of reaching my daily goal of 10,000 steps no longer outweighed enduring this struggle, I turned around to go home. As soon as I changed direction, my circumstances also changed! No longer facing the headwinds, I now had a light breeze at my back, propelling me gently down the beach. My hat remained serenely on my head, its brim no longer trying to bear me aloft as if I were the Flying Nun in that old television show. The sand was no longer attacking me but was instead inviting me to sift through it in search of cockle shells and shark’s teeth.

After a short, pleasant jaunt in the warm sun, I finally made it back to our comfortable home, where my husband greeted me with an inviting smile and hug, as well as with approval for the fossil fragments I had found on the return journey.

This beach stroll reminded me of how much easier and more pleasant life can be when we experience tailwinds rather than headwinds! Financial analysts speak of socioeconomic headwinds and tailwinds that may affect a stock’s performance, and air travel reminds us that these can result in a late or early arrival. If we are sailing, biking, hiking, kayaking or just traveling through life, our direction can definitely influence whether we’ll encounter headwinds, and their impact on our journey and destination.

Sometimes we face headwinds because we deliberately choose to fly in the face of obstacles. At other times, as in flying to another city, we have no choice but to follow the designated route, regardless of whether circumstances favor or hinder our journey.  

Spiritually speaking, we can be guided by the gentle breath, or inspiration, of the Holy Spirit nudging us forward, or we can fly straight into His face in a headstrong spirit of rebellion. How much better to have Him as our Comforter (John 14:16), Advocate (1 John 2:1), Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) and Friend (Proverbs 18:24) than to face the wrath of our infinitely holy and righteous God!

Yet even when we are attempting to follow God’s perfect will for our life, we may encounter headwinds. Satan may be throwing obstacles in our path to discourage us, and God may allow it to strengthen our faith in and dependence on Him. Sometimes Satan works through others, perhaps even well-meaning Christian brethren who have forgotten the old tale of the sun and wind arguing over who could get a man walking on the road to remove his coat.

In that fable, the wind huffed and puffed and blew at the man with all his might, but to no avail, for the man only pulled his cloak about him more tightly. But when the sun shone brightly, the man soon removed his coat voluntarily to enjoy the sun’s warming rays. The message of this tale is like the old proverb that it’s easier to catch flies with honey than with vinegar. To paraphrase, we are more likely to shape others’ behavior in favorable ways by being a tailwind to speed them down the correct path, rather than a headwind impeding their progress. 

My beach experience also reminded me of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-31). He was lulled into a false sense of security when he left his Father’s house, headed in the wrong direction, enticed by the pleasures of sin, lured away by his own greed and selfishness, and facing increasing obstacles every step of the way. When he had finally burned through his inheritance and sunk to the utter degradation of feeding and living with swine, he came to the end of himself and came to his senses.

Only then did he repent, or change direction and turn around, realizing he would be far better off as even a servant in his Father’s house. With each step toward home, his feet must have moved faster and the burden on his heart must have grown lighter as he grew more confident of the wisdom of his choice to return. Can you imagine how his anticipation changed to joy as he saw his Father running to meet him, arms opened wide, welcoming him back with a feast, ring, and finest robe?

When we are saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6)  it is because the Holy Spirit has convicted us of our sin, shown us that we as sinners must face eternal punishment in hell unless we trust Christ as our Savior, and led us to repentance. Once we confess our sins, we have a change of heart and of direction, turning from rebelling against God to following Him. Then we are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), as our burden of sin is lifted away.

But even mature Christians can rebel against God and must then face the headwinds of the consequences of sin. Although God has given us free will to choose our direction, He loves us too much to allow us to turn away from Him without a struggle. First, He speaks in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12). If we ignore that, He may take away our privileges or impose punishment. We may lose fellowship with Him, the joy of His salvation (Psalm 51:12), the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), our health, wealth, or even our physical life.

But praise God, once a backslidden Christian changes direction to return to the Father, these headwinds may disappear, according to His perfect will and timing, and be replaced by tailwinds spiriting the repentant sinner along to restored fellowship with the Father. Praise God, no matter how far the born-again believer may roam, he will never lose his salvation, for the Father tenderly anticipates his return home!  

Copyright 2025 Laurie Collett