The Heavens

 

Sweet daughter managed to tear herself away from the tropical climes of northwestern New Jersey for a long weekend here in Florida. I’m sure it was a wrench, having to leave behind the scene of this last week’s blizzard. It’s a rare treat to have one of our kids all to ourselves, something you don’t realize how much you’ll miss it when they get married and have kids and a life of their own.

The weather’s still being a little meh – cloudy, low 70s – but still an improvement for her. So no real beach time yet, but we did pile in the car before dinner for a small drive down to the water. It was so cloudy and windy we didn’t bring chairs to sit on the beach and watch the sunset, but we did find a different event.

We heard the music before we had an actual visual – people singing, and it sounded for all the world like hymns. Yup, sure enough, by the time we hit the sand, we spotted quite a gathering of people, a small stage, and a group of singers in front of a microphone leading the audience in “Nearer My God to Thee.” Not what you’d expect on a wild Florida Friday night at the beach.

She and I continued our stroll, and then we motored to another location bordering an inlet. And there by the parking lot was a smaller gathering of people who seemed to be listening to some sort of sermon. Granted, My Guy and I are often at home on Friday nights, but apparently there are all sorts of opportunities.

 My daughter and I walked down the jetty there, taking us to the Gulf itself. Night was falling by then, with gray clouds making the dark sea and sky indistinguishable.

More than once I’ve walked into a room with no idea of the thought that took me there originally, and I spent most of last evening looking for a pair of glasses I already had.

Kinda wish I had one of these on my car.

And yet, that moment on the shore unearthed a word I’ve acquired from Elly Griffiths’ books. 

Liminal – where there’s no demarcation between earth and the heavens.