An early morning walk on the beach

While in Cuba last week, we enjoyed an early morning on the beach walk every day. It felt good to be out before the crowds – just a few local Cubans walking around. Always the gentle “hola” and a gracious respect for your space.

This particular morning, the beach front looked different – there had been a thunderstorm the night before. The sea still looked rough and choppy and the waves had swept up so many shells. I think there is a childlike thrill about finding pretty sea shells that does not fade with age. The sand in my toes, the waves crashing on the beach and the pretty shells scattered all over the shore brought back so many memories of my childhood and the beaches of Goa.

This morning was different - I found a real treasure – a piece of coral reef. I had read a little about how these are formed and I could not help but stop and marvel at this little part of God’s creation. Who but an almighty, all knowing God could have created a safe space for the tiniest little creatures of the mighty and vast ocean to live in. I made a mental note to research coral reefs when I got home, but in the meanwhile I remembered the Book of Job. God asks him to “...stop and consider the wondrous works of God”. Job 37:14. And later He asks him a rhetorical question “Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?: Job 38:16. As I peered into the folds of this “ecosystem” I could not help but consider His wondrous works and worship the Creator of this beautiful universe.

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