We were all a bit jet lagged from our red eye on Wednesday night, but I rolled out of bed and decided to head out for a run. I started to head south on Folly Beach to see what I could find and went as far as I could go on the island that direction. I then turned around and headed as far as I could the other direction north. The route turned out to be a bit longer than I expected, but at least I knocked out my long run for the weekend. :)
As I was running, two words came to mind for you.
the first was EXPLORE....
I was praying that as you have a few months left in Malawi that you would explore as much as you can and make the most of every opportunity there as a family and with the boys there.
love the blue dot showing me where I was at the end of the island.
I came across a bunch of starfish at some point on my run and threw one back in the ocean for good measure in honor of this quote:
“Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said,
"It made a difference for that one.”
― Loren Eiseley
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said,
"It made a difference for that one.”
― Loren Eiseley
So in light of that quote that came to mind, my second word that I have for you from my run is INVEST...
May you invest in the people God has given you there in Malawi.
It has mattered to Blessings that you have been there because he has been one who has experienced grace because of your family.
It has mattered to the little baby you saved on the way to the hospital.
It has mattered to all of the residents who have had soul stretching and life shaping times there.
It has mattered to the hospital and to the school and to your church.
You have made a difference.
Your investment has mattered and I am praying that you won't lose heart in these coming days and that you will invest in the people God puts in your path even though we know you would come home in a second now if you could... (and boy, we'd love that.)
of course, I took this picture for you on my run, E.
The other end of the island had a lighthouse waiting for me. :)
beach run with you with me in spirit...
sending you much love from the sandy beaches of SC....
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