Chaos

Don't you feel like there's enough of it in the world right now?

So why do so many of us love to travel to a place of utter, jarring chaos for peace of mind?

Wind and waves, two worlds: water and land, colliding with incredible force all day, all through the night. Rocks are beaten mercilessly. White foam crashes up like a geiser. Wind howls, tossing water and swirling mist violently. The Pacific Coast is terrible in it's power and beautiful too. Terrible, because I know the slip of a foot could mean I too am dashed and tossed like the seaweed and jellyfish below. But beautiful to stand back, at a safe distance, and marvel at the strength of a force that has absolutely nothing to do with me. I can neither know nor control it. The wonder doesn't end on the shore. I follow a twisting path up the rock ledge into another world. Under trees gnarled and shrunken by the brutality of the weather we climb above the sea and become engulfed in fog. At the top of the cliff the moisture can't be contained in the air and rains down on us gathering in muddy puddles, creating treacherous points to slip and tumble into the ocean. Everywhere I turn is danger and majesty, both taking my breath away and inspiring a prayer:

Lord, the sea if yours and you made it. It seems the epitome of chaos and yet, even it is under your control at all times. The wind and the waves obey you and you could still them them as easily as you created them with one word. Peace. Let me remember this, don't let this thought slip away from me when the sea of my life tosses and beasts me, always you are in control. Not standing afar off to see if I'll sink or swim but beside me in the storm, encouraging, showing me how to stay afloat and lifting my tired head for air when I think I can't go on. The world beyond my porch steps is chaos but never outside of you control. Be our lighthouse in the tempest and our safe haven waiting for us with the promise of perfect peace and encouraging us to never give up.

"This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD Almighty is his name." Jeremiah 31:35

"You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them." Psalm 89:9

"The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:27

If you can sneak in a trip to the Oregon coast at almost any time of the year I highly recommend it. We discovered Washburn State Park near Florence, Oregon for the first time thanks to a tip from my neighbor. The Hobbit trails that lead to Haceta Head Lighthouse were magical. The 6 mile loop was doable for our four kids (youngest age 5) and our 11 year old was able to break in his new mountain bike on the trails. Bring plenty of warm layers (since nothing ever dries out there!) and a water repellent puffer or rain coat. Rain boots were also nice to have but waterproof hiking shoes would be just as good.