“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” — Mark 6:31 NKJ

Jesus had called the twelve to Him and sent them out two by two. In Luke 9:6 it says, “And departing, they began going about among the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.” Matthew 10 gives one entire chapter to this time period. Jesus tells His disciples that persecutions are coming, but they should fear God rather than men. He warns about denying Him before men. He goes on to say that He brings division and a sword instead of peace. He also tells them of their reward if they are faithful.

After receiving their instructions they are sent out to preach, teach and heal the sick. And what a time it must have been. Lives were being changed, not only through physical healing, but spiritual as well. It appears that the excitement brought even more people out to see Jesus. In Mark 6:31, Jesus tells His disciples it’s time for a rest, let’s go to a quiet place and get some peace and solitude.

Do you have a vacation spot where you can get away from it all, a place that draws you back to the creator as you see His handiwork and the beauty of it? As we focus on our God and what He has created, we begin to see our proper place in the scheme of things. We aren’t as important as we thought, in fact, it’s all about Him, everything was made to bring glory to God.

The beach and ocean with the power of the pounding waves and the various creatures that we find there have caught my attention from my childhood days. And when I look up at the shining moon in the sky at night, it’s hard to understand how that moon affects the tide, the creatures in the salty water and even me.

Ocean Air

The scent of cool ocean air

Has nudged me along the way

With my plans for a summer vacation

And has brought me to this present day

Those childhood memories of yesterday

With crashing waves and summer fun

When the fog was lifted slowly

By the intrusive light of the summer sun

The boardwalk was cool and damp

As I stepped from asphalt to sand

Then unto the slatted wooden ramp

With my towel on shoulder and snacks in hand

And entered the world of beach and salt water

Of building sand castles with turrets so high

Sometimes chasing a seagull

Or just watching the kites in the sky

My struggle with the forces of nature

Never dampened my spirit or vision

But spurred me on to conquer each wave

As they pounded the sand into submission

An operation on a dead horseshoe crab

Or treasure hunting on the beach

Was followed by teasing a hermit crab

That tried to stay just out of reach

Playing catch with the gentle sandpiper

Was always a lot of fun

As they darted in and out with the water

In the heat of the afternoon sun

The gulls would call to each other

In shrill and mocking tones

As we covered a wiggling friend with sand

From their head down to their toes

There was also the riding of bicycle

On the streets of the little town

As day was coming to an end

And the orange sun was going down

But shall I continue on this carefree journey?

For the memories and words would have no end

Of experiences from the past

And the wisdom they can lend

Those memories of days gone by

Have brought me to this another time

When to the beach we’re going

The kids~my wife~and I

The scent of cool ocean air

Will encourage us along the way

To experience the wonder of God’s creation

And the blessings of another day

It is very important to have a place to get away, to unwind, and to refocus our attention on our God. I would like to encourage you to meet God when you go on vacation. Don’t just go for fun, food, and pleasure. Find a church to worship and praise our God. Take time to be an encouragement to others even when you’re on vacation. You will find you’re helping yourself by reaching out to others. Contact the author at thoughtsonword@gmail.com if you have any comments or questions.

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Lyndon Stimeling, of Richfield, has been writing about faith and family for many years. He has self-published four books, Common Thoughts on The Word in 2016, Eye of a Needle in 2017, Common Thoughts on The Word II in 2019 and A Bridge Between in 2023. He has also had articles published in The Coming Home Journal and local newspapers and has written a children’s book.