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Winter Solstice

Once a month, Sandy and I each get to have one full day to take a break from the kids and go on a personal retreat. It's highly recommended! It's very refreshing and rejuvenating to be in a quiet place reflecting back on your life, ministry, family, etc.

This was my first outing of the year. I started the day at Henry Coe State Park in the morning. I walked into the Ranger's office and asked if there was a good trail for the first-time visitor. He mapped out a nice 7-mile hike, and told me it should take about 4 hours to complete it if I were in good shape. In a bit of defensive mode, I told him I was in pretty good shape. Then another lady ranger looked at me, and said, "Look at him! He's not even wearing hiking shoes. Why don't you show him a trail that might be a little easier?" I told her I should be fine, and got on my way to tackling this 7 mile-hike. Well, it turned out to be harder than I imagined. The slopes were steep, and looking at the topo-map, it seemed that there was at least a couple thousand feet of gain. About an hour into my hike, I realized I did not have water or flash light in case it takes more than a few hours. To make a long story short, I said to myself, "I am an ocean-kind-of-guy, and this is not really a break for me!" I turned back and went back to the headquarter. As I was walking back, I saw the lady who suggested a "baby trail" ealier. My ego did not allow me to walk past her, so I waited till she was out of my sight. I quietly left the park, and headed for my "Ocean". :-)

Within couple of hours, I was at my favorite spot in all of California. I heard that once a year around Winter Solstice, the sun sets very close to the horizon and will light up the ocean through the hole at this famous spot. I got there around 3PM in hopes of witnessing this wonder of nature, and patiently waited for it to happen. And lo and behold, at about 4:15PM, the radiant beams of sunlight started shining through the hole in this gigantic rock formation. As I was watching this and capturing the scene, I felt God's love, or His common grace [for all you theologians]. Every passing day, God lights up the sky, makes the stars shine, causes the wind to blow, gives life to all sorts of wild flowers, just to show us that He loves and cares for us. And how often we take these things for granted!

Jesus said, "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you".

So consider how the sun rises and sets and each day. Stop every once in a while and smell the roses. Solitude is often underrated. Aloneness is a gift more than a misery.

Posted by Ted on January 17, 2006 04:14 PM