Low Tide Lesson

Last week’s visit to the snowy beach included wading out onto a few mini sandbars during low tide.

The pup thought it was great fun to splash on over to explore, even in the super cold temperatures. I had so much fun just watching her that I had to join in the exploration!

These make for beautiful pictures, but they aren’t true sandbars. They’re just extensions of the gentle sloping beach that continues on out into the deeper water of the sound.

Here’s your science lesson of the day, in case you don’t remember from your years in school:

Sandbar, also called Offshore Bar, submerged or partly exposed ridge of sand or coarse sediment that is built by waves offshore from a beach. The swirling turbulence of waves breaking off a beach excavates a trough in the sandy bottom. Some of this sand is carried forward onto the beach and the rest is deposited on the offshore flank of the trough. Sand suspended in the backwash and in rip currents adds to the bar, as does some sand moving shoreward from deeper water. The bar’s top is kept below still-water (half-wave height) level by the plunge of the waves breaking over it. Bars and troughs are most pronounced in the heavy surf of the stormy season; they also migrate shoreward in gentle seas and seaward in high seas. Thus, although sandbars have greatest relief in the stormy season, they are more submerged.

Britannica.com

Obviously the little channel of water between these mini sandbars and the main beach are not big enough for any serious turbulence! But these little stretches of sand that appeared at low tide do provide food for thought, as well as my Monday musing topic this week.

When the water level is higher true sandbars disappear, hiding beneath the surface of the waves. They are a menace to boat captains who may be unfamiliar with the waters of the sound, especially since sandbars are always moving and changing shape. For swimmers, it’s good to keep in mind that sharks tend to prefer water between sandbars.

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Picturesque they may be, but a good picture does not always equate with safety!

Lessons Learned

This past year of Covid (plus a host of other societal issues) has not brought out the best in everyone. Yes, some have shown beautiful true colors, but many have had their sludge brought to light, and it isn’t a pretty sight. Those sludgy sandbars have in turn had negative impacts on others.

Could it be that our Living Water levels have dropped too low?

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’” (John 7:37-38 NLT).

He said in another place and time, “But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you” (Matthew 15:18).

Our mouths testify to the health or disease hidden in our hearts. Our words can bring life or they can bring death, as written in Proverbs: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (Proverbs 18:21).

If the ability to produce life-giving speech depends on the health of our hearts, perhaps we should look inward at our Living Water levels!

Are we taking time to sit in God’s presence, letting Him fill us with His love?

Are we praying for his Spirit to fill us to overflowing, so that what comes out of our mouths is pleasing to Him?

Are we being intentionally obedient to His Word?

David’s prayer is a wonderful example for us:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Be filled with Living Water today, my friend.