TEN MINUTES

Last year I went to a continuing education course in Florida. A friend of mine went with me....not for the course but to enjoy the Florida sun.

For the three days we were there, my friend would get up each morning after I was ready, take me to the class where I sat in a hospital meeting room for eight hours each day, then come get me at the end of class each day. She usually smelled of sand and sea and would pick me up as she was on her way back from the day at the beach, looking totally relaxed and refreshed.

To say I was a little envious is an understatement.

Here I was in sunny Florida spending all day every day in a hospital, of all places. (Thankfully I was not a patient at the hospital. Things can ALWAYS be worse.) But any notion I may have had of skipping a day of class was quickly dispelled as I reminded myself that not only did I fly into Florida seated right next to the continuing education instructor, but also that she was staying in the same hotel I was and might notice my absence and wonder how I got that sun kissed look the next morning when I showed up for class.

By the last day of the class, I was intellectually and physically spent. Subject matter was interesting but difficult. And the class was very hands on (as therapy classes tend to be) and that was all just a little too much people time for this introvert.

When my friend picked me up that day, instead of going back to the hotel, I asked if she would take me to the beach. I had to go. After all, I was in Florida right on the Atlantic. How could I not?

She took me to a public beach and began looking for a place to park the car but no spots were available. I asked her to drop me off....that I just needed 10 minutes....wanted to smell the air, feel the breeze, hear the waves crashing, taste the salt in the air, see the glorious splendor of it all.

TEN MINUTES.

WOW.

I was blown away by the beauty of creation. I was right there in the middle of God's handiwork...struck with a sense of awe and wonder.

I stood there at the water's edge for 10 minutes, my friend still trying to find a parking spot. I felt this overwhelming surge of God's presence with me and I was also reminded of the past when I used to go on family trips. Wonderful, wonderful memories.

I'm thankful for a friend who made a special trip to the beach for me to enjoy 10 minutes of creation. I'm thankful for a God who created that beautiful ocean. And I'm thankful for a God who is with me wherever I am -- whether I'm at the water's edge of an incredible ocean or I'm in a cold, dark, windowless hospital classroom.

May I feel His presence deeply with me wherever I go.

And of course, I had to paint it :)

Ten Minutes

11x14

Oil with knife on canvas board