But this night was different. A Coast Guard helicopter hovered overhead. An ambulance stood at the shore along with the sheriff of Cannon Beach and several hundred people. A few hours before a young woman had been rescued from beyond the surf. The man she was with had not been found.

The atmosphere was charged with dread and apprehension. A mother, seeing her child approach the seas, ran forward shouting “Get away from the water!”  Sand castles stood deserted.

The 23-year-old man’s body, although spotted at one time by air, was not found. Two days later the young man was listed as “missing and presumed drowned.”

While talking with the sheriff on the night of the drowning he said, “It happens every year. People just won’t respect the ocean.”

I think of life and how little respect we give it. Thinking it will always be there for us, bringing beauty and pleasure, we forget its supreme function. Life, like the sea, is continually moving, daily depositing new treasures at our feet. With the power of such motion comes ever present dangers.  Having a tendency to block that truth from our minds, we expect only good to come our way. Then, when tragedy strikes we cry, “Why? How could life play such a dirty trick?”

Unfortunately, we often place ourselves in jeopardy. We go “beyond the surf.”   Foolishly, we forget the rules or guidelines as you might prefer to call them – the Ten Commandments—and ultimately Jesus’ commandment, which He called the greatest of all that of letting love rule our lives.

Ours is a time when many give little thought, if any to God’s commandments. Seeing Him as a Commander instead of a loving Father, a different way is sought. When in truth, more than any earthly father, He treasures the life we breathe … our joy … our laughter, and gave rules seeking only to protect.

Living on earth involves risk; sometimes sorrow comes when we have taken every precaution. Then our Father is there to comfort and help us find meaning in the midst of the pain. But much of our personal sorrow comes directly from choosing situation ethics or the philosophy “if it isn’t hurting anyone, why not?” over the Father’s rules.

What a precarious choice – much like pitting one’s strength against the ocean’s surf, saying, “I’ll take my chances.”

A short time before Jesus was crucified He stood looking over what we call “The Holy City” and cried out, “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem … How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but your were unwilling.”

Centuries come and centuries go. But there does not seem to be much change in the human heart. We still so often desire to go our own way as it seems plea-sureful and self-satisfying . . . yet, can carry the price of our own destruction.

Friends are a wonderful part of life. I recall a birthday spent with a friend whose front door was about 25 miles from my own. We laughed, exchanged gifts and told stories, as her birthday is only ten days from mine. Given a few moments alone, I wander out on her deck where the view is grand. Crowned with sunshine, all of nature seems to shout, “Celebrate!”

Vines wind their way along the deck, carrying the tiniest grapes ever seen. Bending low, I peer close to examine such a find as fruit in embryotic state. They look like little mustard seeds, only green, hanging by a thread of a stem.

Tempted, I nearly pull off a cluster in order to better see, yet a stronger urge says, “Stop! Think of the wine that will not be!”  Yes, even this minute offering holds potential for moments of joy to be savored by some soul. The urge to pluck it loose for curious pleasure is gone as I realize my innate tendencies to serve and satisfy self as if in neon lights.

Here on my birthday, the celebration is suddenly ditched as thoughts of abortion crowd in. How disquieting! Whatever your viewpoint, we are all affected. It is important to keep thinking about this—and to continue speaking our impassioned truth . . . even more so, pondering and listening for God’s take on this, through Scripture and through prayer.

Some time back, I, too, was a mere embryo like the grapes now viewed. It was not a good time for my parents to bring a child into the world. My mother told me of sitting by the hours weeping as I lay slumbering within her womb. My gratitude for the gift of life includes thinking of her suffering, plus nearly losing her life through my birth. What if abortion had been legal? Perhaps I would not have come to be here on earth. I would not be sitting, writing to you. There would be no birthdays, here, at least not for me.

Life is a gift that carries God’s promise to indwell us, provide for and protect us. With God’s help we are up to any and all tasks we are called to face. There is no circumstance too hard for Him to work through and transmute into goodness and glory for those who will trust.

Within each new child gifts await to unfurl and to bloom. Scientists, musicians, writers, teachers—Saints?

The joy that is to flow through a little child cannot be compared with any other gift of life. Besides having Gary to love, my three sons are the best part of my life.

Sometimes the little people who come to us have a very short time to strut their stuff. I think of Matthew, a 3-year-old who died close to my birthday in the past. Residing in Washington State with his parents, he was not someone I met and knew. He was the nephew of friends. Through them I knew of this little one’s journey. Many of us prayed, hoping for his healing as he suffered immensely for the entire duration of his short life. But he came gifted and he gave.

You see, Matthew would not give up. Once having seen the glory of sunshine, he held tenaciously to the gift of life. My friend Shirley said of him, “That little guy was something else. A fighter … he just had a no-good body.”  Now released, he has gone to the arms of the Father of all—healed, but not without first fulfilling his destiny. His legacy rests within the family tree—most of all, strength, courage and unity among thousands of believers coast to coast who were called upon to pray for Matthew to be able to stay with us.

What about our families? So often there is a tendency to simply tolerate those closest to us, valuing more those who live at some distance. Yet, are not our family members given for mystery, beyond finite purpose? Usually, those who are closest to us have power to rub us in ways that can best polish our rough edges. Rubbing and emotional squeezing happens between us which doesn’t always feel good. Still, it brings out the wine: the treasure of our belonging to one another, the history of our love.

With God’s grace and His Holy Spirit within, we can transcend the cognitive dissonance that comes with being human with the felt need to control everything . . . our impatience and fears. If we can master these daily foes, we can sip the various “vintages,” savoring precious moments with the people God has given to us to love.

Luke chapter 12, verses 6-7, holds an amazing truth, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

May God grant us the grace to let Him carry our fears and apprehensions when we encounter difficulties and experiences that look too difficult, or unappealing. Let’s ever look forward to the good that He allows to come to us, along with the strength and empowerment. Through all, we learn to trust. How glorious it is to see how our Creator—Father God, turns to good what looks bad to us.

Happy birthday to you all!