Faith | A getaway to the ocean reminds him of God’s power and artistry

My wife and I enjoy going to the Oregon Coast.

It has been our favorite go-to place since our marriage over 44 years ago when we stayed at Rockaway in a nice motel with a view of the ocean for our honeymoon. After that, we usually stayed in a tent or yurt and packed our own food to save money.

Eventually, we moved up to a hotel a few blocks inland with no view of the ocean and we would eat out at fast food places to splurge a little, but keep costs down. But for the last several years, since retirement and with our two daughters out of the house, we have stayed in nothing less than a room with an ocean view from our hotel or condo, eating out at a nice restaurant at least once a day, which seems acceptable.

We recently stayed in a nice condo in Lincoln City with our favorite beach being just south of Newport. It has a long beach with few people, and huge boulders on one end. We enjoyed walking and looking for treasures, seashells, agates, driftwood and whatever.

As we walk along the beach, my wife will be looking and enjoying one thing, while I’m looking at something else. Sometimes she looks up enjoying the skyline and ocean waves, while I’m looking down looking for treasures, or just the opposite.

We both enjoy relaxing and watching the waves crashing and splashing up against a rocky beach. I remember once at Depot Bay the waves splashing water over Highway 101.

I like to jog on the sandy beach at least once when we visit and go swimming in a pool. Over the years, the jogging keeps getting slower, the distance keeps getting shorter, and the swimming time gets less and less.

From our condo in Lincoln City, we can view an area where they allow vehicles on the coast where they occasionally get stuck. As the tide comes in, we watch them try to get out before the water engulfs the vehicle.

Once we saw a tow truck that came in and pulled a vehicle out just in the nick of time. I’ve helped a time or two, along with other people, to push and get a vehicle out.

We also enjoy a few places along the coastline that are nestled up against a forest. It’s a nice contrast to be in a dense forest one minute, and pop out next to the ocean the next. For the first time in Rockaway, we did the boardwalk into the Old Growth Big Cedar Trail right off the highway.

Spending a few days at the ocean always reminds us of God’s almighty power and creativity; even the stars seem brighter at night.

Seeing the never-ending waves faithfully come to shore, experiencing the wonderful marine life, whales spouting, seagulls calling and sunsets. It reminds us what a magnificent world God has made.

Our ocean beach trips always seem to rejuvenate us with our busy lives, and remind us to honor and glorify God.

It also reminds me, always, how much God loves me, and wants what is best for me. It makes me thankful that in God’s almighty power and love, he gives us free will and the choice to respond to his love and live one day forever in happiness in his heavenly kingdom.

Many religions deny that Jesus is God the Son in the flesh. He was the perfect, sinless sacrifice who died on the cross for all our sins.

Many religions add religious rites and or good works to gain, or help gain one’s salvation to Heaven or a higher place of existence after death, but that is not true. The Bible clearly says that one only gets to Heaven by believing (trusting) in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

The never ceasing ocean waves remind me of God’s absolute truths. He gets all the credit and all the glory.