Gone To The Beach

Recently my husband and I took the kids for a hike near Lake Michigan in Door County. It was amazing: bug free and 75 degrees, with birds singing over the sound of the waves somewhere on past a wall of white pines. Time flew by and I couldn’t wait to get to the beach access at the end of the trail, wiggle my toes in the sand and eat the peanut butter cookies burning a hole in my bag.

Then I read one of the signs I’d been seeing along the trail for the past mile or so. “Poison ivy, STAY ON TRAIL. [picture of said nasty plant]’ In my experience, scanning an area for poison ivy is just a frustrating guessing game. It seems like every plant could be, “Might be??” it. But this time as I glanced at the ground, there was no mistaking it. To my horror every plant flanking the trail WAS IT. It was creeping onto the trail, popping up through the sand by my shoe, three leaves, berries, the works. So much for a relaxing hike! I would spend the next hour picturing my excited, less than graceful little ones falling over a root or each other, head first to their doom. Poison ivy on their hands and legs, on their knees, necks and faces...

“Let’s go back”, I said, “this stuff is everywhere! Someone’s going to fall into it.” I know my kids. I know myself. One wrong step could have it brushing against your ankles. But instead we slowed down and pressed on, thinking of the beach (and the cookies) which by this time was close.

The threat of painful consequences kept me glued to that path, never straying to the right or to the left. The goal of that cool lake and the joy to be had there pushed me on. A little law and gospel picture in the wild. Thanks, God.

Does fear of God’s anger over sin keep you in his service? Does the reality of hell “keep you on the straight and narrow”? Or do you live each day with heaven in mind, one day closer to meeting Jesus? Does the crown of glory spur you on? What motivates you on your walk of faith?

Some days fear and guilt pull us to the word or to worship. Some days the evil of the world presses in from all sides, at home and afar, and prompts us to pray, “come quickly Lord Jesus”. Other days the reminders of our “beach and cookies” to come are everywhere and lift our hearts to God. The blessings of this life are just glimpses of the perfect place He’s preparing!

God is the master planner. He uses all manner of things, all things in fact to accomplish his will. Like the parent who tries rewards and consequences, both, to mold a child, our heavenly Father uses good and evil alike to shape our lives and keep us close to Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Among the poison ivy that day there was another plant: plantain. Not the huge unripe starchy banana cousin, but a small leafy plant. To most people just a common weed, it’s actually a powerful healing plant which has been used for centuries, crushed into a paste to combat stings, bites and rashes. It’s everywhere— your yard, the parking lot, on the baseball field. It’s regularly overlooked or mowed over but to those who know it’s worth, it is a powerful antidote for poison. ‘Hmm, interesting’, I thought as I bent to look closer, ‘the sickness and the cure are growing here, side by side.’

I don’t have to tell you sin is everywhere. Satan sets some nasty traps in plain sight, and we trip ourselves up time and again. Jesus is the antidote for the days you step off God’s path and blaze your own awful trail. When we fall on our face into poisonous choices, rub our noses in them even, He offers the balm of forgiveness. No matter how lost we may be, He calls us back.

“my shepherd will supply my need… he brings my wandering spirit back when I forsake his ways… and in God’s house forever more my dwelling place shall be.”

Don’t keep that Antidote to yourselves, friends!

We managed to finish our hike unscathed without any other surprises, but the walk of the Christian is full of hazards. Sinful distractions are thickly planted at our feet, but don’t let them keep your eyes on the ground. Jesus is plotting every step. Look up! Remember where we’re going. Notice the sound of the waves and praise Him for the sun on your face.

See you at the beach.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18