Depths of the Sea

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV)

March has always been a hectic month for me. Our community celebrates Manatee Heritage Days with every weekend and some weekdays filled with events to showcase our historical sites and teach about the past. March also is budget preparation time. Though the new fiscal year does not start for another six months, we have to look ahead to what we will need over a year from now. Mix into that four family birthdays and all the social activities those bring. Of course, March is pollen season so I go around sniffing and wheezing each year. Our homeowner’s insurance comes up for renewal April 1, so there is that big bill to look forward to at the end of the month. Any given year, no matter what the weather, I know March will blow in like a lion and continue that way to the very last day. This year has been exceptionally overwhelming. The pollen count has been the highest it has ever been since record keeping started. I came close, but managed to avoid an emergency room visit, but it has meant that my staff has had to pick up many of my responsibilities. This year, we are also facing severe budget cuts even deeper than last year’s. As our county administrator stated last week, “quality of life programs will be the first to go.” Guess what category history museums fall into? Not public safety. We spent the month of March searching for new homeowner’s insurance. We have not been cancelled, yet, but wanted to find another company before we do. Our house passed the inspection, but our dogs did not. Because we have a breed on a list of “bad dogs”, even though they are obedience trained and have never bitten anyone and they would even show burglars where the silver is hidden, we were denied coverage by three different companies. So, we are going to have to stay with our current company and pray we don’t get cancelled in the middle of hurricane season. To put it mildly, I feel like I am sinking in bad news these days. I struggle with what to write here on this blog because I do not want to be a whiner, but I would be lying if let you think my life is pleasant all the time. In fact, I think it even more important to be honest that the life of Christian is not always easy. We have troubles, too. What makes our lives different is the peace that comes with having Christ in your life. While I might feel like I am drowning, He is the hope to which I cling. The glass sea creatures pictured here are from a pattern by Boyce Lundstrom called “Low Tide.” In the life of a believer, just like the tides, there are cycles. Sometimes the water is high and sometimes, it recedes. But, what remains constant is God’s love for us, and that knowledge is what keeps my head above water.