The Broken Shell

Last night I was contemplating my posting for today.  I said yesterday that I love to travel, especially to the coasts.  A couple of years ago I "had" to attend a conference in Hilton Head, SC.  Yes, I really had to attend, and it was a most fortunate trip!  The hotel where the conference was held and where the attendees stayed was right on the beach.  Yes, LUCKY ME!!! In the evenings I would take the opportunity to walk along the sandy beach - but had to be careful not to walked too far, or the in-coming high tide would block me from returning to my hotel.  The mornings were quite special, though.  Often I would rise early and head out to the beach to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean.  Just Glorious!!! 

A new morning and low tide often revealed the treasures that the high tide left along the shoreline the night before.  All sorts of fun sea creatures were washed up on the shore, most of which I had never seen alive, like this fun little starfish!  

One thing I love to do when I visit the coast is pick up a few shells and at least one rock from the beach (unlike the little star fish above, which was still alive and I wasn't going to take it from its habitat, shells are another matter altogether).  During those morning walks, I could always pick up some gorgeous new shell that was left during high tide the night before. 

One particular morning, as I was walking the beach and just spending time praying and enjoying God's company and creation, and looking for shells, I happened upon one gorgeous shell sticking out of the sand.  The pearlesque under-belly glistened beautifully in the new morning sun.  "Ohhhhh!!!" I said to myself as I hurried over to it to pick it up.  Much to my disappointment it was broken.  A piece had probably been snapped during its tumultuous travels to the shoreline the night before.  The sand graciously hid its brokenness only revealing what it chose to reveal.  "Awww" I remarked and proceeded to drop it back to the sand.  As I started to walk away a still small voice spoke to me; "Just because it's broken doesn't mean it's any less beautiful."  Owww, how true.  Something about it attracted me - maybe the pearl inside, maybe its outside swirl of colorful lines.  It was, after all, still a beautiful shell.

I often wonder, how many times do we see and/or meet someone who looks soo beautiful on the outside, only to later reveal his/her broken inner spirit?  Do we stop and try to understand what happened in their respective lives that broke them, or do we drop them along life's shoreline, possibly breaking them further?  Let's face it, we all have some brokeness in us, no one's life is perfect - some brokenness is easily revealed, others is hidden deep inside only to be revealed when picked up off the sands of life.  It's not like any of us wear a large yellow sandwich board that states in big bold red letters "HEY, I'M BROKEN INSIDE! PLEASE HELP ME!!"  We never know why God brings certain people into our lives (sometimes we want to question WHY HIM/HER, GOD???), but if we take the time to nurture and cherish those relationship, His purpose is often revealed.

I returned and picked up the shell that morning.  When I returned home, I placed it gently with the other shells that I've collected during other trips.  And it is beautiful there.  The pearlesque underbelly still glistens beautifully when the sun hits it just right.   

Deborah, Debbie, but NEVER Deb!!!

My bestest friend, Chewy and me!!