Of Tides and Footprints in the Sand

My Mau were both asleep, and I was thinking about the time they were roaming through their sandy country of origin, and how much had changed for them in a relatively short period of time. It got me musing as happens so often.

One of my friends had sent me a photo of a beach and the ocean in the vicinity of her house. That got me thinking about walking along the shoreline and seeing your footprints disappear as the tide rolls in. Wave upon wave of foam and seawater until everything is covered. Once the tide turns and recedes, not one of those footprints remains. 

My mind took me - again - to the many smaller historic buildings we’ve lost to another tide, the tide of not caring, not being interested, of too old, no longer useful. High tide rolled in and once it receded, there was next to nothing left, like footprints in the sand. 

Taking another walk along the shoreline, we make new footprints, thinking these will survive because…everything is better now. Or is it? Tides will come and go, still washing away our footprints but also our mistakes, our errors, our suppositions, giving us a chance to start afresh. 

Restoring our heritage, those small old buildings in the heart of communities, would set the footprints of previous generations for the one following us. 

And while thinking of footprints, I am reminded of another well-known text…

A man, dreaming about his life, saw two pairs of footprints…one being his own, the other pair belonging to God. At certain moments there was only one pair, and the man asked: “Why, oh Lord, do I see You walking beside me except during the worst moments of my life, when there is only one pair of footprints. Why did You leave me on my own when I needed You the most?” And God looked at the man and said: “Because during those moments I carried you in my arms.”

Even though we may not see Him, may not feel His presence, God is there, carrying us when we need Him. 

Photo: by a friend