They see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. Psalm 107:24 (NKJV)
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so our family took the leap: a trip to Hawaii! As we settled into our friend’s Oahu townhouse, I noticed the stress fade from my wife’s face.
The kids played in the yard, and we packed for the beach. A short drive, perfect sand, crystal-blue waters, refreshing trade winds, the scent of plumeria, and a happy family–days melted into each other and added up to heaven. Too bad we don’t live here, I thought.
Our trip then brought us to Maui. We embraced our inner tourists and visited a pineapple plantation, shared a luau, and even rode a submarine. We saw the teeming life on a coral reef thirty feet beneath the surface. I wish I could see this every day, I thought.
That afternoon, my daughter and I rented snorkeling gear and headed toward the beach. We had only two days left and hadn’t yet tried snorkeling. Our condo sat beside a coral reef, filled with beauties beyond compare: fish every color of the rainbow, large and small; urchins; anemones; and spectacular creatures whose names I didn’t know. Too bad we put off snorkeling till the end of our trip, I thought.
But later I embraced a simple truth: From my wife’s smile to my kids’ laughter to my dogs’ wiggling welcome–wherever life brought me, I just had to open my eyes to the wonders of God right outside my door.
Gracious God, grant me wisdom to feel more deeply Your ever-present joy in everyday life.
