Danger in retrospect

One day, as I walked along the promenade, I heard a wave breaking behind me. I turned to look at it, and saw a huge wave crashing onto the walkway right where I had been seconds before. I was pleased that it didn't wet me with its sticky salt water.



Sometimes when we look back on our experiences, circumstances and events, we see the danger we just missed, and realise how we were protected and kept safe. Give thanks. We don't always see it at the time, and may only see it in retrospect.

The warning crash

When a big wave hits the promenade wall, it makes a loud crashing sound, booming like thunder. It warns us that lots of spray is about to come up and drench us if we don't spring out of the way.



If there is "noise" in our lives, we may get drenched by a wave of some kind. We need to be still to hear the warning of the still, small voice in order to avoid it. Keep your spiritual eyes and your spiritual ears open. Be aware, listen.

Praying on a bench

One day I was sitting on a bench watching the waves, when I closed my eyes to pray. A particularly large wave broke right in front of me and slapped loudly on the pavement, so I opened my eyes. It was as if the sea was trying to get my attention.

                                  

Sometimes, if we aren't paying attention, the Lord has to do something dramatic to get our attention and have us open our spiritual eyes to see what He wants us to see.

Reacting to the waves

People respond differently to the waves breaking over the edge of the promenade. Some enjoy it and laugh. Some get a fright or are afraid, and scream. Some run away. Some deliberately stand in the way to get sprayed. Interestingly, no one tells anyone else that they shouldn't laugh, scream, run or get wet.





When people react differently to the way we would to a problem or trial, we shouldn't tell them how they should react or feel, eg "Don't be upset", "Don't cry", and so on. We experience the same thing differently to others and don't always understand others' reactions, nor should we judge them for their reactions.

Safe in the face of seeming danger

Sometimes and in certain places along the promenade, when the waves are huge, I can safely stand next to the railing at the very edge of the sea, and yet the waves wash out to sea again and don't harm or wet me. I don't stand where I know the waves break onto the walkway.




If we stay in safe places and live righteously, the dangers of life and temptations may come right up to us but not harm us. We will be protected, as I am by the promenade, but we must avoid spending time in places where we know there is spiritual danger.

Cape of Storms

Cape Town has several nicknames, one of which is Cape of Storms because of the big winter storms which it experiences. The wind can exceed gale force, the rains lash the coast, and the waves become mountainous. When a storm has died down and the sea is calm, it is wonderful and peaceful, and then it deserves one of its other nicknames, The Fairest Cape in All the World (this name was given by Sir Francis Drake). 

We only really appreciate the good after we have experienced the negative - joy after misery, health after illness or pain, peace after turmoil or unrest.



Sometimes huge waves approach the promenade, and they are quite scary. I feel sure they will break over the railing, yet often even the biggest waves dissipate by the time they reach the shore, and I am quite safe.

Looming problems and dangers don't always harm us if we are in a safe place, the place of a right choice, where we are meant to be. They too can dissipate and we wonder why we were so worried or afraid.

Damaged pillars and a wall

Along the sea edge of the promenade are cement pillars holding a railing in place. Those that stand where the sea breaks over the wall the most often do suffer damage even though they remain in place. Some lose chunks of cement, some get rusty spots where the metal rod inside is exposed, and some become discoloured. 

There are things we do which damage our spirits even though we may remain active in the church and think we are doing fine. Maybe we go to places where the Spirit won't be with us or where we know we will face temptation. Maybe we watch inappropriate movies, listen to music that doesn't have a good influence on us, or read books or look at pictures we shouldn't. We may think we are in our place and standing strong, but like the pillars facing rough seas, we may also lose chunks or become discoloured. The atonement can heal us of this damage if we choose to stay safely on the Lord's side.





In places where the sea is the most dangerous and the most likely to break over the promenade, a wall has been built for protection. We may need to build a wall of protection for ourselves and our families. We can do this by controlling the media in our lives, and by setting standards and limits.

Tanned feet

Last winter I would walk on the promenade on almost every sunny day, wearing sandals. After some time I noticed that my feet had been tanned with a V on top, in the shape of my sandals. This wasn't very desirable when I wore other shoes that showed the tops of my feet, so in summer I tried to tan over the pale part of my feet, but it took a long time and a lot of work to tan over.

The things we do to our spirits through our carelessness can mar us, but through the atonement we can repent and be forgiven, and be healed. Some things may take much longer than others, and a lot more work if they are deeply ingrained, or serious addictions or sins.