Uncontainable

The day started off badly.

I had gotten 3 hours of restless sleep before my alarm sounded with it's irritating 'cool runnins' ring to call me out of bed. I fought it though, as I always do, because even though it wasn't likely that I could get back to sleep, I was uncommonly comfortable and didn't dare move an inch before it was absolutely necessary.
The next beckoning was a text message from a friend saying that they weren't going to be able to make it to the beach today.
I was supposed to be up by then anyways, headed to Cobourg to meet other friends and hang out in the surf while doing our best to keep sand out of awkward places. I had every intention of going early, but that decision was made while I was sober, not drunk on a comfy duvet and pillow.
I eventually dragged myself out of bed though, did all that morning ritual stuff, threw on my bathing suit and another layer of clothing and headed to the car. I left about an hour and a half later than I had wanted to but I was on the way so I thought it not a huge deal. I drove in the fast lane to make up some time on the hour long drive and as I neared the little beach town I somehow missed the signs and consequently, the exit.
It would have been no big deal except for the realization that the next exit off the highway was about 20 kilometers away and there were small rain drops falling and clinging to my windshield.
Not loving that I was adding another 30 minutes to my trip I received a call from my friends who were already at the beach. It was indeed raining and they were packing up and heading to a restaurant.

This is the point in the morning when I realized that I was officially in a bad mood. Lunch would be nice indoors instead of sitting in sand with seagulls eye-balling your every move just praying that you'll drop something so they can fight each other for a fingernail sized crumb. I found my friends in the parking lot and we headed for lunch. I tried shaking my mood but even when I was able to, for seconds at a time, my mind would wander and I'd be in a daze and then I'd think, wow, I must be wonderful company. [And I do apologize for being so boring at lunch - I'll make it up to you guys. Maybe we can watch another TV series in it's entirety next week]

On the way home though, something great happened. It had stopped raining and for a split second I took my mind off myself and looked up into the sky. It wasn't intentional, it wasn't premeditated and it certainly wasn't a lot of time but it was enough to stir something inside of me. The white clouds on the brilliantly clear blue backdrop reminded me of something very important: nothing that happened this morning really matters. It doesn't matter now and it certainly wont matter tomorrow.

I drove for two and a half hours today without setting foot on the beach. So what? My bad mood shifted to a feeling of relief and even joy because I remembered that this world will throw many things at me and try to take me down but I have already declared that I'm not living for the prizes of this world.

In the car, heading west on the 401 a song came on that sang, 'the heavens can't contain the glory of the Son' and I thought, how true! This glory is uncontainable. All I did was glance at a tiny slice of creation and before I could blink, it screamed goodness back into my life. It refocused my heart on my prize; being in the presence of my creator - today, tomorrow and forever. Sure, life has nice door prizes. This planet was created specifically for us and for our enjoyment. But there are many things that will distract us from the real prize that stands before us. I'm thankful for the reminder and glad that a detour and a little rain on a beach day didn't distract me for longer than it did.

So today I do not ignore the uncontainable glory that gently reminds me of what is important and what is not.
I'll fill the car with gas and I won't be bitter.
I will live for my God.
It's the least I can do, after all, He died for me.