By +Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka
My Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—RISE. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. I write for five minutes on a given topic. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out our hostess, Kate Motaung’s site. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!
RISE
I was determined.
We’d been in San Diego for four days, and I had yet to get even one beautiful sunset picture. We were only a mile from the beach!
So, after enjoying a day of activity with my family, I told my husband the sunset was calling. I took my own little adventure that evening. I drove toward where I thought I could get to the sand. Looked for a place to park. Figured out how to get down to the beach.
I walked a narrow, uneven path that ended at a rock. The sand was a good six feet jump below. I hurled my 40-something self and landed on my backside. But I was on the beach! Camera intact. I had seen what looked like a good place for photos a ways up the beach, and I snapped pictures as I walked in that direction.
God’s beauty never ceases to stop me in awe. The sun setting. Reflecting on the sand. Rocks adding dimension to each glimpse of glory He showed me.
But the waves . . . they were rising.
I walked a little further, in my trekking sandals, exhilarated at the spontaneity of this endeavor.
Those waves began pushing me against the cliffs, and I realized I had a choice to make. I could try and dash for the desired spot and hope I made it. Or, I could turn back and hope I could climb that six-foot rock to safety before the waves rose too high.
Life is like those waves sometimes. We set out ready to do those things impressed upon our hearts. We walk forth and love the feeling of freedom. But the waves . . . sometimes they rise, and we’re forced to make a choice. Go forward or go back.
When life’s cliffs hem us in, there’s really no way to stay put and wait out the rising tide.
I’m learning that God forces us to choose sometimes. We have to rely on Him for guidance and move in faith in one direction or the other.
Faith is like that. We don’t stay put. We’re either moving toward God or away from Him.
What about you? When have you set out on an adventure and been forced to go back or change direction? What’s been an unexpected adventure you’ve undertaken?
*****
Those five minutes passed waaaay too fast tonight! I had more on my mind, but the timer went off, so please forgive the abrupt end of the post. Thanks for stopping by!
Visit Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday site—Rise
Jeanne Takenaka 
My unexpected adventure is to be a part of a renaissance festival in order to talk to just one person about God and Jesus. It’s been a whirlwind, but it has been so much fun. And a lot of faith that this is what God wants me to do. Thank you for the beautiful pictures.
Hugs,
Melinda
(visiting from FMF and mghollis.wordpress.com)
LikeLike
Wow, a renaissance festival! There’s one that’s held not too far from our home. It’s an environment where your light will be needed! I’m sure the Lord is helping you shine brightly for Him. I hope the Lord gives you many people to share with. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What truth in your post! I like how you mention that sometimes God forces us to choose. My husband and I had to make a decision about moving with a lot of obstacles in the way. We would go forward and then backward with it. But God kept gently nudging us forward. Next week, we will be on our way to a new place. All the pieces to the move were part of the plan and we see it now. Thank you for sharing today, Jeanne. And oh, how I love San Diego beaches and all of God’s creation. I am glad you were able to see the beautiful sunsets.
Blessings,
Carrie
LikeLike
Carrie, it seems like often, when we’re moving forward into something we do face obstacles. Rarely is the path as smooth as I would like. 🙂 I’m so glad you got some direction and that you’re moving forward with your move (oops! No pun intended. 🙂 ).
I spent seven years in San Diego. I loved living there, and I love beach-y sunsets anywhere. 🙂
LikeLike
Yikes! I was worried for you on your adventure! And I, too, am guilty of this: “We set out ready to do those things impressed upon our hearts. We walk forth and love the feeling of freedom.” Praise God for the ways He mercifully hems us in and back to safety. Your pics are beautiful, but the lesson your shared is even more so. Thanks for taking us on this journey- Loved it!
LikeLike
Yes, I’m so thankful God hems us in, even more than waves and cliffs. 🙂 I’m so thankful that God gives us opportunities to practice living out our faith, and that it shouldn’t become stagnant.
Loved your post too, my friend!
LikeLike
Loved your writing. I was right there with you on that beach, the fear rising in my throat too. My adventure…..it’s daily. Not one I’d have chosen but one I need to navigate with care. He shows me, daily, how to handle it with grace.
LikeLike
Helen, there are some adventures we go on, whether we choose it or not. I guess the question is, once we’re on it, how will we walk it out? It sounds like you’re doing it right—by trusting God to help you navigate it and walking out each day with grace.
LikeLike
Jeanne, such a thoughtful comment….I try not to think too much of getting out, because it brings me a great deal of pain (sadness)….but, yes, I trust Him and know He has plans….I am learning so much on the journey, things I had to learn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great analogy, Jeanne! And I love those pics as well! Thank you for these encouraging words! (Stopping by from #fmf… Happy Friday to you!)
LikeLike
Rachel, thanks for the kind words. 🙂 When I saw the prompt what immediately came to mind was my mini-adventure. What came from my fingers surprised even me. 🙂 I love when God does that. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such good words here, Jeanne. I tend to be less impulsive and more of a planner, so I don’t often jump headlong into anything. At the same time, I don’t always lay my plans before God, and so have often had to turn back.
In my Bible study this week I learned about David’s desire to build the Temple – a good thing! – and how God told him that he wasn’t going to it. So even my good plans can be different from God plans. Thankfully, when the waves are about to drown me, He is always faithful to pull me out!
LikeLike
I’m usually a planner too, Marie. I’d been “planning” to take sunset pictures all that week. I was down to my last possible night, so I just . . . went with it. It was fun, for the most part. Climbing back up the six foot rock was a little tricky, but I discovered some footholds.
And how often are our good plans different from God’s plans? For me? That’s most of the time. 🙂 I’m thankful with you that God is ready to pull us out when the waves begin to drown us. Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂
LikeLike
oh, rising waters. Sometimes make for beautiful moments.
LikeLike
Now that’s a different, and very accurate perspective, Lisa. 🙂 I enjoy it more when I am not worried about my safety in the midst of the rising waters. 😉
LikeLike
What lovely pictures! I lived in San Diego for several years…you brought back memories.
I guess I am on quite an adventure now, not one I sought, but certainly not lacking in rather a Spartan kind of grace. As in “go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here, obedient to their laws we lie.”
Each day is indeed a choice…to say “why me, why THIS?”, and retreat into a kind of sour rebellion against God and life, or to accept the unpalatable reality, and, with God’s help, turn it on its head.
It’s a decision, every day.
LikeLike
Andrew, the way you choose how you will live out each day inspires me. And I love how you, one day at a time, and with God’s help are turning your circumstances on its head (not sure I used proper grammar there 😉 ).
I remembered you mentioned living in San Diego for a few years. I attended USD and worked for a few years there after graduating. Great time in my life. Praying for you tonight, friend.
LikeLike
Great post and pictures! Glad God showed you the handholds and footholds. He is so faithful! You jumped in with both feet to share His glory with us. Imagine the tide was an unwelcome surprise, but He is always there for us! Thanks Jeannie!
LikeLike
God is always so faithful. Sometimes, I think we jump with both feet into an adventure, trusting that God will catch us and guide us, don’t we? 🙂
LikeLike
Jeanne,
oh how I loved your post! I got lost in your five minutes as well. 🙂 And, how true of having to choose. It appears from your photographs that you still captured the sunset with brilliance and beauty, even if not from your intended spot.
Thank you for sharing your adventure. I was right there with you.
And, so thankful you stopped by and watched the interview and took time to tell me! (heart)
~Tammy
LikeLike
Tammy, thank you so much for stopping by! Yes, God gave me some beautiful shots of the setting sun and the beach. I LOVED it. I look forward to visiting your site again. 🙂
LikeLike
Gorgeous sunset pictures and message, Jeanne. Changing direction seems to be a way of life for me. But as long as I’m growing closer to Christ, I’m eventually okay with it. Experience has taught me to press on and hold loosely to the steering wheel so He can direct me in the way that is best. I crash and lose my peace if my grip is tight.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
LikeLike
We all have to be open to changing direction, don’t you think, Wendy? I’m like you, it takes me some time to get used to the change when God points me in a new direction. And yes, holding loosely to the steering wheel of my life. I’m not always so good at that. 🙂 Let’s both work to not crash. 🙂
LikeLike
Great analogy Jeanne! This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor”
Oliver Wendell Homes
LikeLike
Oh, I love that quote, Gene. It definitely describes our faith life. 🙂
LikeLike