Along the Beach.

The following is most certainly best to be used as a meditation. I have taken a small event from the Bible and written it in such a way that it is now a "Guided Meditation."

Where I have included a number of full stops (..........), I indicate that here is a place where it would be good to take a pause, to allow what has been written to become a picture painted in words to fill the mind.

Along the Beach

You are sitting on a beach in the early hours of the morning. The sun is just beginning to rise above the horizon, its light is touching the tips of the waves making them shimmer like a million little diamonds. You can feel the warmth of the morning sun as it caresses your face the sand begins to warm beneath your toes and the edges of your feet. There is a gentle breeze, but warming.  It is a beautiful peaceful and calm morning. As you sit relaxed and comfortable, feel the peace flow into your inner being. Take a moment to allow this peaceful scene to envelop you and fill you with its calm:-....................

You feel so relaxed, calm and at peace with yourself the world and yourself:- ..................

Not far from where you are seated, at the edge of the water two men are casting fishing. You can hear the gentle sound as the nets hit the surface of the water and the sound of the waves as they roll onto the beach nets into the sea. These sounds do not detract from the peace of the moment, rather they enhance creating an almost orchestral sound:- ................

Even further along the beach, to the left of you, a colourful boat has been dragged up onto the sand. Three men are resting against the boat two others stand beside them. They are all involved in mending the fishing nets that had been used during the nights fishing. It is obvious that they are in the conversation as they work, you can hear the voices even though you cannot make out what is being said. Even the laughter that occasionally bursts forth does not disturb the calm. You watch, allowing the peace once again to fill your being with a deep sense of harmony:- ...............

Something catches your eye, a movement making you turn to look to your right. In the distance you see a solitary figure walking slowly along the beach in the direction of the men who are still fishing. From the way he is walking at a slow steady pace and looking around him it is obvious that he, like you, is enjoying this moment. You watch as he draws nearer to the fishermen:- ...............

He walks directly towards the two men as they once again cast their nets, almost oblivious of his presence. He stops, they turn and look at him as he looks directly at them. He speaks and you can clearly hear his words, "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men." They drop the nets and they fall into the water. You can hear the splash as they fall and are discarded, the waves carrying them to the shore and dragging them back down the beach. The three men move on along the beach passing where you are seated. You watch as they walk towards the boat and the other men:- ..........

It all seems so correct as if it were a play being acted out on the stage of life:- ...........

Again, you watch:-............ Again, you allow the peace and the calm of the warming morning to touch your inner being:-............

The three reach the other men, who stop what they are doing. It is obvious that the man is again speaking although this time you cannot hear the words. Two of the men drop what they were doing turn to their friends and join the man and the other two.:-...........

The four speak to the others and hands are shaken and the five turn to leave. With little if anything being said, they walk up the beach towards you:-..........

You are curious, yet with an inner feeling of warmth and gentleness:-...........

As the five men come very close to you they, without any instruction from the man, all slow their pace. The four stop, saying nothing. The man continues walking towards you. As he draws very near to you your eyes meet his. They seem to be smiling as those eyes of his hold and captivate yours:-.........

You look at his face. You seem to sense a strong feeling this man cares about you, there is love in that face. You relax and allow the feeling to wash over you and through you:-..........

The man reaches out and lays a hand on your shoulder:-.............  You feel a warmth flow through you:-..............

He speaks to you:-............. He says:-................?

He takes his hand from your shoulder and the five, again without words moves off, the four following the one.

In the peace of this moment consider the words that were spoken to you in that still small voice within;-..............

Give thanks and leave and prepare to continue your day, taking with you a sense of peace and purpose.