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Our family returned home last night from the beach. We survived the remnants of Big Bertha, the tropical storm off the South Carolina coast. The storm stirred up the wind, the waves and the jellies! My kids loved the challenge of boogie boarding. The ocean was so rough I didn’t take my eyes off of them. I stayed in the water and I couldn’t resist the attempt to be boogie boarder mom of the week!

One morning when we had calmer waters and the jellies had stung a few of us, we decided to take a walk along the beach. We met a man and his wife from Italy who spent three hours building a 4 foot tall detailed sand castle. It resembled the one at Disney. The man was hired by Hilton to teach a class to kids called, “No Hastle Castle.”

Later that night we returned to the beach to see the finished products. The participants actually made several very good castles and figurines. We arrived at high tide. The castles were beginning to be washed away by the sea. The couple’s castle eventually disintegrated and became one with the remaining sand. All that work, time and effort spent in the heat of the day had quickly disappeared. It reminded me of the verse in Matthew 7, “The wise man built his house on the rock not on shifting sand…”

But there was something eternal about the man’s work. This man who was a former fire fighter had retired and found his passion. He had an artistic talent that captivated the by stander. The interactions between the man, the work with his hands and the conversations with people…that was what he was building…temporary enjoyment of aesthetic beauty and relationships. He was confident in his purpose. Even though he knew his castle would disappear, but not the beauty in the eye of the beholder. He seemed at peace and at rest within his being.

As I watched the Italian build with sand, water, pvc piping and shovels, I was thankful. As I thought about him finding his passion and loving what he does, it affirmed to me that the writing of the book and the work it will take to sell are my purpose. At least, I wasn’t building a sand castle that took hours of work and then within less than a day it would be gone. The words on the pages in the book would remain permanent-seeds planted in the heart bringing change. I realized the book like the castle had no value and were only effective if the reader picks it up, engages with the author, beholds the beauty, the work, the time, and the meaningful purpose.

God has allowed me to share my passion for Him and for prayer through the work of my hands in a book. Through my purpose I hope that others will stop and enjoy the beauty of expression that I have shared just as this man on the beach. What’s so fascinating is that each of us is called to reveal His glory whether it’s through sand art or words in a book. We are designed for a purpose.

Life always seems a little blue after a great week at the beach and coming back home to “routine.” The time of rest and refreshing are over, but there is always anticipation when life is lived with purpose. We are all building in unique ways…to bring Him glory.