Sea Glass of the Heart

By: Meghan Newkirk

This past week I had the privilege of vacationing with my family at the beach. After all the time spent at home in quarantine an escape to the ocean was a needed break.

There are endless treasures to hunt for along the sandy shores of the ocean. Some people look for pristine seashells that have yet to be cracked or broken. Others prefer hunting for illusive sharks’ teeth, small and mighty, disguised among the darker particles of sand. My family has always preferred to look for something that is all too often overlooked; we search for sea glass.

Sea glass is basically glorified garbage. They are pieces of broken glass that remain on the beach from beer bottles abandoned after a party or old glass soda containers from a time gone by. Some of them even come from loads dumped by ships. Most commonly, it takes twenty to forty years for a jagged piece of brown, white, green, blue, or red glass to get thrown around in a swirl of sand and rock to become soft like velvet. These pieces of jostled trash represent countless historical stories and experiences, however for me these precious leftovers represent something bigger than my imagination or heart can ever fully comprehend.

These little treasures remind me of myself; they remind me of humanity and our deep need for Jesus. They help me remember that the painful journey of sanctification will feel like being tumbled under a massive body of water but has an end result that is glorious and beautiful. Sanctification is a process that takes an oceans worth of time. We don’t become more like Jesus overnight. When I touch the soft edges of sea glass they remind me that the sharp edges caused by my sin are also being smoothed out in my own jostled life through the uncomfortable chipping away of that sin. The process isn’t fun and is exhausting, but in the end I trust in the promises that God is working to make me more like Jesus.

Not one piece of sea glass is exactly alike, but each goes through the same refining process for the final changed result. Like sea glass we all come in different shapes and colors, bearing experiences that are unique and precious. Sharing our experiences of being tossed in the waters of God’s purposes should bring us together as a body and encourage us to push on through the difficulties of sanctification, remembering the binding truth that we are all one in Christ.

Given the current climate of our country today, let’s pray that we will all come together by listening to the stories that shape us and make us unique parts of God’s kingdom. As we hunt for truth in a world where truth can be hidden like a sharks’ tooth in the sand, let’s be encouraged that God’s purposeful hand is guiding every single one of our stories. Let us also remember to listen with care, actively hearing about the sanctification journeys and diverse experiences of others around us. We are cherished because of Christ and we can rest confidently in his saving work on the cross knowing that our tumultuous voyages are never in vain but are for our good and God’s glory.

Next time you are at the beach take a look for sea glass because it might serve as a reminder of God’s work in your life too!