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Escaping the Rogue Wave July 21, 2008 By Shirley
McDonald While on vacation
recently along the Pacific Coast, our traveling group of six friends
decided to take a walk to the beach at Gold Beach, Oregon. The tour
director had told us that the ocean waters were so cold that no
one swam there. Since it was cold and had been raining for several
days, no one else had braved the cold that day (we are from Louisiana,
and I was enjoying weather not in the high 90's). My husband and
I left the others on the road above the beach because I wanted to
touch the waters of the Pacific Ocean. We walked carefully over
the rocks until we were at the water's edge, watching the waves
as the tide rolled in. Suddenly, I saw a huge wave (surely this
was a rogue
wave!) coming rapidly toward us. All
I could think of was that I was just about to be washed out into
the rough waters of the Pacific Ocean--or, at the very least, I
was going to be soaking wet and far from the fishing resort
where we were staying. To the laughing amusement of our friends,
my husband and I began to quickly run toward the safety of the rocks
above the beach area. The wave kept coming and I kept running, sure
that I would soon be engulfed by the cold ocean water. To my great
surprise, I was able to push my old legs to a faster speed than
I knew was possible (our friends say I was outrunning my athletic
husband, but I still don't believe that!), and only my feet got
wet. Then, and only then, did I join my friends in their laughter.
I did not, however, venture anywhere close to the water's edge again.
I had learned a lesson about waves. How often have
I been enjoying my life, when suddenly a rogue wave came out of
nowhere and threatened to engulf my life with unexpected turbulence?
How fearful I was! Yet, just as
I found the extra burst of speed to outrun the wave of the Pacific
Ocean, God provides me that extra strength to get ahead of the wave
of trouble or to at least get out of the situation without being
completely submerged. Then I, too, can look back on the experience
with gladness that I have escaped--and once again learned a life
lesson. God will protect me, but I must be on the lookout for dangerous
situations. As the Old Testament
reminds us, “Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver
me out of great waters…” (Psalm 144:7). © 2008, Shirley
McDonald --------- Shirley McDonald has decided to begin a physical fitness program in the event she encounters more forces of nature that might threaten her safety.
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