Basking in the Son

If you grew up in Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach in the late 1970's and early 1980's you spent most days at Station One at Wrightsville Beach (Stone St). I rode with my brother who was a lifeguard and stayed from 9-5 or 10-6. We did not take water because no one drank water. We would have just enough money to get a coke and a hotdog from the Trolley Stop. When we got on the beach we got out the baby oil and sometimes mixed it with iodine to fry in the sun. And we would bask in the sun all day with friends! What wonderful memories I have! Like my dad I was blessed to grow up here!

Mom and I just got back from the beach and I was thinking how I still love the beach and usually we stay from 9-4 (and Mom is not ready to leave then). Today I was thinking about what has changed for me about basking in the sun. Here is one of the biggest differences. Back then I was probably thinking about who my latest crush was, who was having a house party at the beach and how that evening we would be walking from the Palm Room to Red Dogs. It was basically all about me and my social life. I loved basking in the sun!

My dad was a believer that salt water and sun cured everything. He believed a tan made you look healthy! Obviously he was not a dermatologist...just truly an "old salty"! We laugh that dad died with a suntan which he would have wanted! He actually had a stroke on Wrightsville Beach after being there all day. If God would have let me pick my last "normal" day with Dad I would not have changed a thing. It was a beautiful day for he, Mom and I and we swam a lot. It was so cool under the umbrella and we read, took naps, talked, etc. I feel very close to Dad at the beach.

Now when I go to the beach I take an umbrella. I wear a hat and I reapply my sunscreen. Because I get so dark I sometimes wear a water shirt so I will not get anymore sun. I take lots of water to stay hydrated. Now when I get in the water I think about God's creation. I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place that I love so much! I love to stay in the water floating over waves. I love the crispness of the cool water. And as my dad would say, nothing cools you off like the ocean. I love to watch the tides coming and going. I love to feel the sand on my feet. The beach has always been very therapeutic for me! I feel very close to both of my fathers at the beach. Dad and my heavenly Father.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Then I basked in the sun at the beach. Now I bask in the Son at the beach. The definition of bask is "to lie exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure." I would say that the Son also exposes me to warmth and light and gives me peace and joy!

Bask in the Son!

An earlier picture of Mom and I enjoying a day at the beach! Apparently then I didn't even have to wear a bathing suit!