Once a year, my wife and I have the incredible opportunity to spend a few days at our friends cottage on Bodega Bay, a small fishing and tourist town on the coast north of San Francisco.  It is always refreshing for a number of different reasons:

First, we take this opportunity while our kids (this year just Jesse) are at camp at Westminster Woods so we get some time alone.

Second, it is about 40 to 50 degrees cooler than it is in the Sacramento valley, sometimes more.  When we left Granite Bay it was 102 degrees and when we arrived in Bodega Bay at 5PM it was 57.  The fog usually burns off in the afternoon for a couple of hours to stave off severe depression.

Third, there are amazing seafood restaurants here and I love seafood!

Perhaps my favorite part is just enjoying the view and the slow pace.   Especially when times are tough, the salt air seems to calm the heart and soothe the mind while the placid scenes invigorate the spirit.

Looking out on the bay, a favorite quote from Jesus comes to mind:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”   Matthew 11:28-30

I hope you can have an opportunity to find rest this summer – if not at a place like Bodega Bay then in the quiet of our own home in the presence of an amazing God who wants us to Rest in Him!

Pressing on toward the goal . . .

RevDrKid