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The Wave

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One morning when I was at wits’ end, I checked my email and saw that a friend had sent me a video clip. It turned out to be a collection of relaxing beach scenes, with soft instrumental music playing in the background. The waves washing on the shore reminded me of the peaceful beauty of God’s creation, and the gentle, repetitive sight and sound of the surf rolling onto the sand soothed my spirit.

When I had calmed down enough to think more clearly, it dawned on me that most waves are the result of winds out at sea, turbulence. There is continual movement as each wave builds over time and distance. It picks up speed and breaks when it reaches the shallows. It stretches along the warm sand until it is just a thin sheet. Then, slowly and silently, it retreats back into the sea. On and on it goes—building, breaking, spreading, and returning in an endless cycle.

The winds of adversity can create some pretty big waves, like the ones that had engulfed me that morning. I felt buffeted and agitated, but it helped to remember that they were only for a time. Each trouble would run its course, retreat, and fade away. Peace and order would return. And they did.

 

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Janet Barnes

Janet Barcelo (with articles also published under the pen name Janet Barnes), has been a volunteer educator and mission worker for the past 25 years in countries as diverse as Japan, Argentina, India and Romania. She currently lives in the U.S., where she is raising the youngest of her nine children and regularly participates in charity and social work.

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