Surprises

Last week I traveled again to California - this time for Steve's aunt's 90th birthday party. I'm thankful for these wonderful relatives with long lives and fascinating stories. We took an afternoon to visit the beach near Laguna. As we walked along, visiting and enjoying the beauty of the ocean, I spotted a water from a blow hole far out in the water. Having grown up on the ocean, I knew it was a whale - not just one but a pod migrating north.

This is a gray whale - one that can grow up to 50 feet long and weigh 30-40 tons. Steve took the picture above, but here is a more close-up photo from National Geographic.

I am always surprised by the beauty of nature - and by how viewing something so awesome and wonderful in a quiet moment can inspire and rejuvenate and remind us of God. He is there when we don't see him, and often surprises us with a blessing or insight when we least expect it. Or just his presence - so beautiful and comforting and refreshing - causing us to worship.  Psalm 104:24-25 says, "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both great and small."
We are also his creatures. He has made us in wisdom. He even knows us by name and surprises us with his blessings.
Barbara Eckroad