When we go to the beach it’s usually for a few hours, so I like to bring an umbrella to sit under, a beach chair that reclines, some snacks in case I get hungry, and, of course, a book to read.

We usually plunk ourselves down in the same general area.  With twelve kilometers of beach, you’d think one might move around, but no, we head for our regular spot.  And apparently, so does everyone else.  Day after day we see the same people sprawled out around us.

But this year there is a roped off area the size of a small gym right where we normally set up shop at the beach.  How dare they!  I’m sure if you dug deep enough you’d find things that belonged to us over the years to prove that’s our spot.  But it’s off limits.

The reason for the roped off area is to protect a family of birds nesting on the beach. Inside the huge roped off area is a tiny screened area for the mother bird and babies. There were four babies but apparently one is missing.

And I know where it went!  There was a flock of seagulls who weren’t obeying the roped off boundary and they were hanging around the screened area waiting patiently for a nice fluffy little morsel.  That would be their snack before their usual attack of some child carrying a box of fries back to a family … patiently waiting for a little morsel outside the roped off area.

Seeing that roped off area really bugged me.  How can a little bird command so much power?  Why does the beach have to be disrupted for a bird family of five, and why such a large area?  It made me mad that our regular spot was off limits, but there was nothing we could do about it.  So, we headed for another area and set up our stuff in a different spot.

As I put the umbrella into the sand I was still muttering to myself.  As I unfolded my beach chair and flopped into it I was still thinking evil thoughts towards those birds.  Then I started to look around.  The beach looked the same from this new spot.  The water looked the same too.  After about three minutes, I forgot I was in a different spot because it seemed just like our old spot.  I settled in to my book, and thought, “I guess the ‘Piping Plovers’ (species of bird) can stay.  With kilometers of beach all looking the same, I guess I can share a small gym sized area with them.”

So here’s the thing:  God sometimes brings things into our life to move us to another spot.  The spot He’s moving us to is closer to Him.  Once we’ve been at the new spot for a while, we get used to it and it’s like the last spot, really comfortable.  So God will bring something else to move us to yet another spot closer again to Him.  There’s lots of room, lots of spots, and at times we don’t even recognize we’re getting closer; it just seems like a disruption.  But be patient; you’ll like it from the new spot in time.  I need to be open to allow God to move me closer to Him, and to go, rather than put up a stink.

Until Next Time!

Pastor Paul

Question: What has God put in your path to move you closer to Him? Leave your comment below.