“But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.” (Psalm 77:11) NLT
At the end of February I went to San Diego to be with a friend. It was a gift to me for my birthday and while I was there, we celebrated her birthday.
I came home knowing that I would write a blog post about the trip, and for the past month I have tried to put words to the trip. Obviously, if you are a reader of my blog, you know I haven’t had the words!
We spent time in Coronado, CA at a time share resort. It was a perfect trip. I felt something deep inside me but it was an intangible feeling at the time.
One day we spent at the Hotel Del Coronado, we sat on the deck by the water, talking, sipping coffees and munching on pastries. It felt natural to me, familiar. The military helicopters buzzed above, the Navy planes flew over, tourists were in their swimsuits jumping in the cold water and we sat on chairs in our sweaters watching it all.
As we talked, I felt like this time, special in itself, was also a special time for me. A deep feeling of calm and peace enveloped me. We stayed long enough that the coffee was replaced by iced teas and cookies (I think). Life continued around us as we sat, wrapped in conversation.
We eventually moved indoors as we browsed through the shops and wandered through the lobby. Looking into the dining rooms memories came rushing in. Going to see the Christmas trees each December and have drinks in the lobby, taking my youngest for afternoon tea in the lobby, events that I helped plan for work.
As we stepped into a courtyard more memories came to me, a leadership conference we had had in one of the rooms.
It was a day of memories for me.
Later in the week we went to Disneyland. I happen to be the same age as the park. While we lived there, I would go to the park on my ‘5’ and ‘0’ birthdays to celebrate. I haven’t been there since I was 55. Going at 70 was different, I discovered I can’t get in and out of rides as easily as I once did. Again, the park was filled with memories, lots of them.
I had a wonderful time. I felt loved on, spoiled, actually. I felt settled inside, renewed, refreshed.
I have thought a lot of this time spent in my former hometown.The flow of the traffic was familiar. The sky was the same.
As I write about this time, those intangible feelings resurface.
In our ladies Bible Study this year we have talked about altars of remembrance. It’s been an interesting theme woven into each presenters teachings. Last night as I was laying awake for a while, the two things, altar of remembrance and San Diego were tied together for me.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I had a word from the Lord about going to San Diego in 1982 that said that there would be many thorns awaiting me in San Diego and that we would be there until the Lord was finished with me there. The word that was spoken to me came to pass.
During the time in San Diego the Lord did many things in me and He taught me many things. I grew and discovered that I was more capable of things than I thought. I was stretched and shaped like a potter shapes a vessel on the wheel.
With each move since leaving San Diego I have found myself reverting to old habits. Being shy and fearful of doing things. As I lay awake last night I realized that the trip was in fact, an altar of remembrance. It has taken me a month to identify those intangible feelings, but I am beginning to see. The Lord allowed me to be in areas where He ministered to and taught me life lessons. I remembered who I am in Christ. I experienced my altar of remembrance. I remembered the great works of God in the past.
I praise Him for His wondrous deeds in my life. I praise Him for taking me on this trip. I thank Him for those who were obedient to get me there. I thank Him for this trip I didn’t know I needed. Our God is a great and glorious God who cares for us. He knows what we need and He provides for those needs. Great and mighty is He!
The Refreshing of a Wild Rose 