Footprints in the sand

Upon this world we leave an impression; each walk along the shore a footprint remains until a collection of prints scattered about the beach imparts a sense of bewilderment for those similar in size lack detail and thus can not be differentiated.  It is not until we walk closer to the shoreline that we begin to recognize patterns in each imprinted path; that is until the water washes them away and the beach once again impeccable, awaiting new impressions.  Among the dunes thousands of footprints are left behind; but the winds blow covering the impression and others make their own impressions causing the image which remains to be a muted form of what once was.  Divots, crevasses, and hole scattered among the sand hold with it a lasting memory of times which have come to pass.  Times spent in laughter, in sadness, in doubt or fear; all of these times are preserved on the beach...a time capsule of memories, a time capsule of lives.  Memories explored, memories adored, memories forgotten now richly preserved in the grains of sand.  Reaching and grasping these grains of sand, they tickle the fingers as they pass for they return to their home of the shores through the fingers, with each passage memories race and images of yesteryears flood the heart projecting a memory time stamped prior to the present.  Warmth encompasses the heart, a smile adorns the face for the significance of this memory imprinted upon the soul.  Who we are today is but an accumulation of our past experiences, our past choices; should we change the past our present, too, would be changed for each footprint upon the shores creates a path, a personal path of collective memories, collective experiences which defines our person.  Perhaps haphazard and erratic, perhaps stoic and calculated, our steps but a collection of stories, all containing many chapters, and we the authors.  No matter the number of chapters, there runs through each a common theme of discovery and acceptance.  Challenging, haphazard steps earmark adventurous chapters, ones in which the thrill of the unknown stir the inner sense of excitement allowing the heart to laugh and smile.  Then there are the erratic steps which perplex the mind yet, if the heart is in control, life is grand for the heart takes its cue from the Father and the heart will never lead astray.  Thus, these steps deems erratic are nothing more than the Father's way of showing us our world, it is a potpourri of life wrapped in the beauty and intensity of faith.  Chapters such as theses are filled with joy, filled with love for the world is opened, the eyes of the heart opened inviting us to live life, to live love in the Father's arms.  Chapters of peace are written on our acceptance of each path, our acceptance of the impressions of the heart.  Our books not yet complete for there will be chapters centered around stoic paths, paths in which only one or two steps were ever taken.  Often we look back and regret these chapters for we deem our loves stagnant at these points.  Forget the regret, forget the idea of changing the past for, again, if the past were changed, the present too changed.  Look at these stoic times as chances to be vigilant, chances to stop and listen for too often the hectic times come with deafening noise and we forget to listen.  Invite the silence and, even in the softest, gentlest breeze the voice of God will be heard.  Let faith, not fear, be the main character in these stoic chapters.  Acceptance of self in the light of faith is likened to the rising of the sun over the ocean.  At first it is low and illuminates only the white caps of the waves but as it rising the warmth of its rays cast beauty upon the world coupled with a sense of warm protection.  As we grow in our faith we rise like the sun in beauty; our actions likened to that of the sun's rays for as novices in the practice of faith we peek out over the ocean, reaching only a select few around us.  Practice of faith, actions of faith begin to define our person.  No longer novices, our spiritual growth rises like the sun; our faith now strong enough, experienced enough that it reaches beyond the intimate few.  A world of beauty engulfs us for created from the Father's love, we are the beauty of this love.  Though always an integral piece of this beauty, lack of self acceptance as well as doubt became the roadblocks of our view of this beauty.  Life now lived with purpose, life now lead by the heart, actions of faith couple with actions of love define us as being of the Father, beings of beauty.  Each account of inspiring moments of faith, moments of love in action are the transcriptions found in the calculated chapters.  It is not that each moment, each action is planned or calculated; rather it is the idea of coupling faith with talents and putting them into action that we make our life fit for a purpose, the purpose of bringing the Father's love to all His children.  And so the stories of our lives, chapter by chapter, are written with a single step.  Into our lives many people will walk, some will leave lasting impressions on the sand and others will be quickly washed away.   The converse is true, into the lives of others we will step the question is will we leave a lasting impression or will it be quickly washed away as if it never happened?  Chapters in which we wrestle with self acceptance, truth of faith, and the reality of God are the chapters by which we grow in definition for we become spiritually awakened, spiritually alive that we may live our faith.  After all life is a compilation of steps; steps hastened, steps in stride but none the less step along the sand...many which remain, many which will be washed away.  Each step a lesson, each step a chapter bringing us closer to the acceptance of a life of faith, the acceptance of the beauty of self.  As the sun illuminates the ocean, the sands too glisten in rays making for a picture perfect moment.  Be in this moment for you are this moment, you are the beauty of this moment for faith has brought you in the moments.  Cherish it, learn from it, live it, be the moment for the reality of a God knows no time and this moment will become your lifetime.