The Beach

I flew into California Wednesday, met my family, and had a tearful reunion.  Though I miss all of my families I've been serving for the past two years in the South, I'm grateful to be back home with my family.

The following morning, I did something I hadn't done in two years; I went to the beach.

While meditating on all that the Lord has blessed me with, I noticed that there are so many characteristics of the ocean that are in similitude of our Father in Heaven.  For example, the waves of the ocean.

The waves are always moving.  They are always in motion.  They are, in a very real sense to me, eternal.

The scriptures teach us that "the course of the Lord is one eternal round (1 Nephi 10:19)."  He doesn't change.  He is always there, no matter what.  He is real, and I know He lives!  He will never part from His work and glory (see Moses 1:39).  His love is eternal.

The next aspect I noticed of the ocean's  nature is it's power and majesty!

It is massive!  The ocean is all powerful, just as our Father in Heaven is the Almighty in his power (see Job 37:23).  Yet despite how powerful and all-knowing He is, He chose to take upon Himself the title of "Father" out of His love for us.

The other quality of diviity that I saw upon the waters was the peace it brought.

The peace of our Father in Heaven "passeth all understanding (Phillipians 4:7)," and is a peace that the world cannot give to us no matter how hard it may try (see John 14:26-27).  By sending us peace through the Comforter, we receive real peace that can comfort us through pain and sorrow, heal our broken hearts, and touch our souls with illuminating power.

More important than any other characteristic that can describe our Father is that "[He] is love (1 John 4:8)."  He lives, and He is so real.  I love Him dearly, and His infinite love is something I cannot even begin to comprehend.  His love stretches to all His children, for we are all brothers and sisters, descendants of a Divine heritage!