“Gift from the Sea” Epi: #1. Probably my favorite secular book is “Gift from the Sea”, written by Anne Lindbergh and originally published in 1955, the year I was born.

If you’re like me and have a lot of books, a book can get lost in the multitude sometimes. Especially when moving and everything gets stuck in boxes and shuffled around, waiting for its new spot. Well, this happened to me with this book, Gift from the Sea. And as I accidently stumbled on it today, I was reminded just how much I love this little treasure of a book.

Anne Lindbergh was the wife of Charles Lindbergh. Flying was a big part of their life together, but Anne was also a writer, and she spent a small vacation in a little cottage, (no longer there), near the beach on Captiva Island on the Gulf side of Florida. This is where she got the inspiration for the book and began its’ writing.

My delight in finding it today inspired me to reread and possibly share some thoughts as I go. The Introduction of the book was written by her daughter, Reeve Lindbergh. My first “sharing” is actually from the Introduction.

“At whatever point one opens Gift from the Sea, to any chapter or page, the author’s words offers a chance to breathe and to live more slowly. The book makes it possible to quiet down and rest in the present, no matter what the circumstances may be. Just to read it — a little of it or in its entirety — is to exist for a while in a different and more peaceful tempo.” (Reeve Lindbergh).

“To exist for a while in a different and more peaceful tempo.” How would you describe the “tempo” of your life? Now imagine being on a small island with few people around, and the waves lapping at your feet as you stare out at the sea. There is a warm breeze coming across the waters and your face is full into it, eyes closed, ears listening to all the peaceful sounds of birds, waves, and wind. The sounds of nature, not man. Wow. I’m there right now. A different and more peaceful tempo.

Even just the title of the book affects me, “Gift from the Sea”. What does she mean? Anne was not on a crowded beach with bikinis, oiled bodies, and noise all around. No. She was embraced by Mother Nature alone. And in her quietness she saw things. Things many people fail to see. Then she wrote her treasures in this book. This is what I hope to share, just some of those thoughts of hers.

This site: “Live small/Fight Big”, is about a simpler way of life inspired by Christ and His Holy Spirit. God is bigger than any ocean, but I see similarities. You can go as deep in God as you desire and never find the bottom. There’s always more. Even deeper places to go. He is vast beyond our ability to imagine. He’s more powerful than the greatest sea storm or tsunami, and yet offers a beauty and peace akin to a sailboat illuminated in golden sunshine on a distant horizon.

I don’t know what Anne’s thoughts on God, the Bible, or religion might have been; but when I read this particular book, I feel God. I know scripture says creation itself testifies of God, its Creator. That’s what I feel in this book. I hope to share some of those feelings in these blogging pages. I hope you enjoy.

Pause. Take a moment. Grab a notepad and describe on paper how you would describe the tempo of your life today, and on most days.