Glass Beach 03-30-10

Luke 3:5-6 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.'

In the early 20th century, the residents of Fort Bragg , California threw their household trash over the cliffs west of town at the very edge of the Pacific Ocean . They discarded glass, appliances, and even cars. The land was owned at that time by the Union Lumber Company and locals referred to it as "The Dumps." Occasionally fires would be lit to reduce the size of the trash pile.

In 1967, the North Coast Water Quality Board and city leaders closed the area and various cleanup programs were undertaken through the years to correct the damage. Over the next several decades the pounding waves cleansed the beach, wearing down the discarded glass into the small, smooth, colored trinkets that cover the beach today so that the area is now referred to as “ Glass Beach ”.

Today, Glass Beach is abundant in sea glass. Sea glass (also known as beach glass, mermaid's tears, lucky tears, and many other names) is glass found on beaches along ocean or large lakes has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted glass.[1]Sea glass is one of the very few cases of a valuable item being created from the actions of the environment on man-made litter.

After spending a couple of hours delightful hours there, I decided they needed to rename it “ Jewel Beach ”. The thousands of pieces of colored glass resembled sparkling jewels. Isn’t it amazing what time and tides can do; continually working the dangerously sharp and broken pieces of glass until they are smoothed into to jewel-like treasures?

The bible provides us with several examples of individuals who could have spent the rest of their lives walking on the broken glass of their heartaches and loss:

• Naomi mourned the loss not only of her husband but both of her sons and therefore any grandchildren she might have: "Don't call me Naomi, "she told them.”Call me Mara, because the Almighty [d] has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." Ruth 1:20-21
• Job was devastated by the loss of all his children and holdings while suffering from painful boils; "My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me. Job 17:1

• Sarai’s very name meant “bitter.” Her husband lied about being married to her, causing her to be pursued by a lovesick king. She was desperate for a child of her own while seeing her husband’s reflection in the face of her servant’s child. Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me." Genesis 16:5

Instead, by God’s power, each story is one of healing and jewels resulting from former places of great pain and suffering. Saria’s jewel was her son Isaac-born of her old age, along with God renaming her “Sarah (“princess”). Naomi’s jewel was Ruth who was considered” better to … than seven sons” and Ruth’s son, Obed, whom Naomi raised. Job’s many jewels include his sons, beautiful daughters and replenishment of his assets.

Beloved, how many times have you been in a difficult, even painful situation only to look back to realize that God brought glory from your experience? I Peter 5:4 states: “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” I believe that God will take all of the broken parts of our life that we’ve allowed Him to smooth and create jewels for our crown.

Careful Considerations: Does God view our brokenness as sharp pieces of glory that just need smoothing? What are the jewels that were created from your loss, trial of trial or heartache?

Heavenly Father, You are near to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).Your road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him makes it. (Psalm 18:30). You “bring good news to the afflicted; bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners (Isaiah 61:1). Lord, take the broken sharp edges of our pain and trials and smooth them into jewels for a crown of glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

Hugs and prayers,

Gwenda

Isaiah 26:7 The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?

Psalm 128:1 All you who fear God, how blessed you are! how happily you walk on his smooth straight road! You worked hard and deserve all you've got coming. Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness!

(1) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California