This is Living Water

Left the house a little bit after 11 this morning. Things have definitely cooled off a bit since last week. It’s about 70 degrees outside and mostly sunny. I’m wondering if the water is still as warm as it was earlier in the week.

I get to the parking lot and there is some texture on the water but things are looking pretty nice.

As I walk down the stairs, the sun feels so pleasant on my back.

I see a surfer coming up with just a half suit on and a surfer in the water with no wet suit. This is a good sign. If the surfers are not wearing full suits, it must be warm.

I seem to remember when I was younger that surfers wore wetsuits much less frequently than today. I know I certainly did. I’d go all summer with just a vest. Now I see them in full suits all year round. I see about three of them today with full suits.

I get to the beach and the water feels about the same on my feet as I remember from Tuesday.

As I start to head out into the water, it is indeed still warm. We are in low-mid 70s territory.

Before making my way past the surf, I notice the water still has the brown cloudy color from earlier this week. However, once I am a little further out, the brown subsides. It is not clear by any means, but at least it is blue.

What a wonderful wonderful day. Summer may be nearly over but it couldn’t feel more like summer than today.

I just let myself relax into this swim and melt into the water.

I’m letting go of any effort to become something.

The tension between future and past subsides into the softness of this present moment.

I’m just settling. Settling my mind. Settling my heart. Fixing my gaze on the horizon hovering between blue sky and blue water.

The breeze pushes the water over me - providing momentum and erasing the slate of my consciousness, making all things new.

With each breath I am letting go. I am releasing my fear and my doubts and entering into a trust that binds me to the present and gives me hope for the future and forgives the shortcomings of my past.

Grace upon grace upon grace comes with every stroke and with every breath.

This is eternal life. This is living water.