Then sings my soul....

While perusing my Facebook newsfeed Saturday evening, I saw a post from my fellow Facebooker, friend and "coconut angel", David Kay that caught my attention ~ there was to be an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:45 a.m. on the beach at John Pennecamp State Park.  To many, that may not seem like something for which to pause, but it spoke to me in a way I had not heard before.  Now, before I go any further, you must understand that even though I am a very spiritual person, I am not of the church-going variety.  As a matter of fact, I just vaguely recall the last time I attended a worship service (what I DO recall is that I was mentally mumbling something about Sunday Christians...).     

Having said that, I was still compelled to call Dave and inquire about the service.  He was very gracious in answering the few questions I had (Will I be welcome? What do I wear?...you get the idea).  After hanging up with him I began somewhat scrambling around; do I wear this or that ~ what on earth will I do with my hair ~ I should do my nails...all the usual stuff...well. the usual stuff of the past.  Suddenly I stopped!  What was I doing?  Dave assured me that of course I would be welcome and I could even wear my flip flops!  I was still stressing ~ old thoughts, feelings and a couple of not so good memories were creeping in.  Despite all of that, I knew I must attend this service.  So, I regained my composure, prayed for strength and went to bed.  There was no alarm set, no "Easter Sunday best" ready ~ I didn't even get my coffee pot ready for morning.  Just before drifting off around 1:30 a.m. I asked and trusted God to be my guide, vowing to trust divine wisdom. 

At 5:57 a.m. I awoke.  Oddly, without even questioning myself, I made coffee, took my faithful dog out for a stroll around the yard, returned and jumped into the shower.  Upon looking at the contents of my closet, I didn't flinch and within just a short time I was sitting in my "church clothes" sipping my coffee and hoping I didn't spill any on my shirt.  Yes, I said shirt.  My Sunday-go-to-meetin' attire consisted of a pair of navy blue shorts (respectable enough), one of my favorite shirts ~ a light blue short sleeved fishing shirt given to me a few years back by my pirate pal and you guessed it, my most comfy flip flops.  My hair was casually pulled up and fastened with a shell pink hairclip. (Hey, it was pink, close enough to an Easter Bonnet for me!)  As I pulled onto the highway I began having doubts.  Still, I calmly persisted on my 1 mile or so drive to the  park.  There was a man at the gate to welcome everyone and give parking directions...he had such a warm & friendly smile I couldn't have turned back even if I wanted to (besides, there were others behind me, and this was a one way deal)!  With the car parked, I took a deep breath, opened the door and walked to the beach...what a sight to behold!

The sun had yet to break the horizon and everyone there was on their feet awaiting that magical moment.  There were other fishing shirts, shorts and all the flip flops one could imagine seeing on a beach.  Not to mention everyone had "casual" hairdos due to the strong salty breeze.  THIS, I thought, is church!  THIS is pure worship!  THIS is what it's all about!  As the sun began to rise a hymn was started and even though I was trying my best to sing along, I was too busy wiping my tears of joy with the collar & sleeves of my buddy's old blue fishing shirt.  It was even used to wipe tears from the camera lens, quite a handy thing, this shirt!

As I watched the sunrise, released what felt like an ocean of tears and let my hair blow freely in the wind (no use fighting it) it dawned on me ~ perhaps all those years of shying away from church were from my own insecuritites and self judgement.  Maybe, just maybe, I was at fault for not taking it all in regardless what others may think or say or (heaven forbid) do.  Perhaps I also had been a "Sunday Christian" by judging those I had defined as such.  Yes, I had labeled them, judged them and ashamedly condemned them.  I was so deeply humbled that I quietly knelt and thanked my divine leader for that which I'd been shown.

Does all of this mean I will now be in church every Sunday?  I honestly cannot answer that as I have always been and still am of the mind that one does not have to go to church to know God, to pray or to do good deeds.  What it DOES mean is that whatever I do or wherever I go, I know that my loving & giving God is within my heart as well as at my side.~ How Great Thou Art, indeed!

Note: Because of transportation issues, I had to leave the service early.  The pictures below were taken by David Kay of Key Largo, a/k/a Video Dave. https://www.facebook.com/VIDEODAVEK     The service I attended was given by First Baptist Church of Key Largo. https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Baptist-Church-of-Key-Largo/141064419249591 

As always, I wish you peace until the next time,

Coconut Sal~