A superb symbol

We have had a week by the sea (and more coming soon). I was walking along a deserted beach early in the morning. The waves pounded rythmically on the shore - and I looked out to the vast expanse of ocean. We were on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. I was facing towards South Africa - thousands of miles away! And the song came to mind - "Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving-kindness as the flood..." James Jordan has said, 'Why did the writer use this image of the vast ocean to describe the love of God? Probably because one day he fell into it!'

I was moved to worship, standing by that vast ocean in front of me. It is a superb symbol of what God has called us into - immersed us in! His vast ocean of love and goodness and mercy and kindness and richness. Just thinking about it washed me again in his love. I fell into this ocean years ago when I was 30. My sense of being held by his love stayed for some time, but then I lost touch - and dryness and sinful choices robbed me for some time of this joy. Then again, it returned one day by the sea, as I pondered what it was to be emmersed in Christ. And now my understanding has enlarged (we are to grow in grace ...what is freely given, and understanding, how our minds and hearts interpret and view what is freely given) so that I can recall and return to that grace simply and easily.