Robin is a 3rd grade teacher from Orlando, who was sharing the beach at Indian Rocks with us over our vacation. Because Rachelle has never met a stranger, she and Robin began a conversation that covered a lot of topics, during which we found out that Robin was a Christian.
Robin is also a Crabby Bill’s junkie; she mentioned to me that blue crabs were on special, and asked if I liked them. I had only tried them once, and found them to be a lot of work for little return. Robin quickly offered to teach me the secrets of unlocking the goodness of the blue crab, so we all made a date to share lunch at Crabby Bill’s.
During the 2 hour seafood bonanza that ensued over lunch the next day, we found Robin to be a funny, intelligent, compassionate, Christ-lover, who also knew how to efficiently attack a pile of crabs. Our stories were shared, Robin listened to Michaela explain all about her kittens, she talked with Jacob at length about the Left Behind series, and we found a friend. It was a wonderful experience. When Robin left, we exchanged hugs and email addresses, shared a couple of pictures, and wished her well as she headed home to Orlando.
As we walked away from the restaurant, Michaela got a little choked up and said, “Why do I feel like I’ve known her for a long time?” About all I could say was that we had just gotten to see a picture of what heaven will be like. Someone that we had never met almost immediately felt like a dear friend whom we knew well, all because we shared a love for Jesus. I suspect that in heaven there will be a feeling of oneness, of shared-ness, of knowing and being known that all will flow out of our life in Jesus.
So here’s to blue crab loving friends who paint a picture of the Kingdom with their lives.
Heading south on I-75, somewhere around Ocala I think, there was a very cool billboard.
It read something like this, though I didn't catch all the details:
Florida Guy 
Looking for Georgia Girl 
I bought a ticket for you for the game on Oct. ? at gate ? – PLEASE call me at this number!
As we rolled through the remaining miles to Sandy Shores, a couple of questions kept running through my head. First, do I expect and count on God to always pursue me? And secondly, to what extent (personal expense, inconvenience, embarrassment, etc.) would I go to let Jesus know that I long for him?
Here’s to hoping a Georgia girl calls a Florida guy.
I admit this freely – I am not overly romantic, especially as I ease into middle-age. Because of this, I feel that I neglect Rachelle from time to time, as she doesn’t see expressions of the love that I think (hope?) that she senses.
So, as we were driving through Chattanooga, TN on our way to Florida, I was overcome with emotion as I listened to the Indigo Girls sing of the “Power of Two” and I realized in that moment that I am married to a wonderful woman. Does she make me mad enough to pinch her head off every now and then? You bet, just as I’m sure I push her buttons too. But in Rachelle, I’ve been blessed with a compassionate companion, who takes equally good care of me, our children, our home, and all that those things entail. Along the way, she continues to be, in the words of Ricky Bobby, “my red hot smokin’ wife.”
So, when – not if – I fail to express myself to her romantically, may my friend and lover Rachelle always know that I am blessed to share life with her.
So we’re okay, we’re fine.
Baby I’m here to stop your crying and
Chase all the ghosts from your head.
I’m stronger than the monster beneath your bed and
Smarter than the tricks played on your heart.
We’ll look at them together then we’ll take them apart.
Adding up the total of a love that’s true, Multiply life by the power of two.
If you've ever been to Florida, you know it's hard to imagine the scene in this picture -- no neon, putt-putt or wave runners. But in 1946 the family of Ned Hall purchased the beach house in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida that was to become Sandy Shores. Today, Ned and his wife Myrtle are offering their home for guests to enjoy an elusive taste of Old Florida. And it is here that we enjoyed a needed, God-saturated vacation.
In the days ahead, I want to try and bring to life for you some of the ways that the Kingdom was made known to me in those days, and in doing so, I hope that you will come to see that Jesus is actively pursuing you in your own life, in ways that are visible to those with eyes focused to see him.
And along the way, if you find yourself thinking that something about our trip sounds like something you’d enjoy, drop Ned and Myrtle an email – they’re great folks and would love to have you visit!
