Reflections in Punta Cana

1.27-1.31.14

     We only spent four days in Punta Cana, but I can say that was one of the BEST things Alex and I have ever done together. The resort was an all-inclusive, and it was basically like a cruise except you stay in one place the whole time. And the booze was included, so that was a plus.
      Alex would get up every morning (read: every. morning.) before the sun came up and go run on the beach. I would fall back asleep and he would wake me up about an hour later asking when we were going to go get breakfast (ugh. After I sleep until noon...). Then we would just go relax on the beach or in one of the cabanas by the pool and swim, read, talk, and eat. We were able to talk about everything we'd been through in the last 6 months, and talk about his transition out of the army into the civilian world. He talked to me a lot about the potential job opportunities that he had applied for, and I was able to dream with him about what I would like our life to look like in 5-10 years. It was basically our second (or third... or fourth...) honeymoon.
     On the last morning, I was committed, committed, to get up with him and go watch the sunrise over the ocean. I knew it would be beautiful, and I knew I wanted to see it first hand instead of just seeing it in his iPhone pictures from his run.
      It was probably just about 70 degrees that morning before the sun came up. I couldn't decide if I wanted to go swim in the ocean or if I wanted to watch the sunrise from one of the beach chairs. I dipped my toes in the water, and then I started to wade out. I kept walking out until the waves started hitting me in my belly button.
      Its a funny thing when you try to resist waves like that. If your stand your ground, inevitably, a large wave will come along and slap up against your stiff body, either knocking you over or giving you a nice face-full of saltwater. You can brace yourself for it, see it coming, or even turn your back and let it be a surprise to you and the result is the same: face full of salt-water. It can be kind of miserable because even though you're in the water, the water is still beating you.
       Only when you lift your legs off the bottom, off of your solid footing, and allow yourself to be swept up by the waves can you really begin to understand, appreciate, and enjoy the waves. When you float, the waves don't slap you in the face or overwhelm you. They don't knock you over. Sure, you're still at the mercy of the crests and valleys, but you're not being taken. Instead, you're choosing to be submerged in the water and letting the water dictate when you rise and when you fall.

       If you haven't figured it out yet, this is the perfect analogy to becoming a Christ-follower. We've got a lot of people that want to stand in the water, yet have their feet planted firmly on the ocean bottom so that they have "control" (whatever that means) and can see what's coming. They think if they can just prepare for it, brace themselves, feel the waves coming on, that they'll be able to handle it. They can wade out even further and still have their footing. But they never really submerge, and then end up with a face-full of saltwater.
      Then we've got the people that are still standing on the beach not ready to get wet. They watch others, see how they're getting smacked in the face with salt water and think, "Why would I do that? That doesn't look like fun... Looks like they keep getting wet when they don't want to." So instead, they stay back. They may ask how what the water's like, but they never experience it on on their skin.
       Lastly, we have those true followers who trust enough to let their feet come off the floor. At this point, we finally allow the waves to carry us. And at that point, the waves stop scaring us. Are we immune to them? Absolutely not. But they don't beat us anymore. We ride them, accept them, and enjoy them (sometimes).

       The sunrise that morning started as a soft pink... then glowed to coral, and finally ended up a bright hot pink. Kaitlyn had helped God paint that sunrise for me as God used the waves to teach me.