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For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Apparently it was like the Jeopardy lightning round, education time, from my bench-sitting older gentleman Italian-heritage former salesman of lighting fixtures for malls up-and-down the East Coast “random” gregarious sharer of info on this Sunday. Having needed shade and rest after climbing the TALL Lighthouse, this co-resting gentleman educated me on everything from the ABCs of east coast lighthouses to the widest channel of water in the area for the boats, to the 1950’s purchase of his family’s beach place. He couldn’t climb anymore but he knew how to entertain and to share, to look to connect with many people, and I appreciated it as I rested my feet from 201+16 steps of the 172 foot tall spiral staircase. His feet kept him grounded this time, while waiting for others in his party. Then when the same joke was reissued to a newcomer newly resting near our bench, I picked up and stepped away ready to keep moving. I’m sure we might catch up in Heaven someday. This man made a “Daymark” in my memory, knowledge of where the nice conversation was going, a mark of note in enriching my day and me being ears to listen for his, a “Daymark” meaning his colorful nature was distinct and recognizable, I enjoyed listening and learning.
A “Daymark” he explained, was not just the name of a shop along the road. Daymark means the color markings due to paint on the lighthouse, so that during the day, the boats could recognize their location, by the distinctive markings. Making the lighthouse unique, that’s the Daymark.
That’s how I navigated this Sunday, uniquely Unique. Recognition of a Sunday to rest in the Lord’s Presence with His people. My day was unique, starting with sunrise at the seashore. Actually this IS unique that I even got to get to the shore for a whole weekend, for last bits of summer, thanks to wonderful friends with a house on the island. Relaxed on Saturday, moved through more blessings on Sunday. Like an elephant ear of yummy pastry shared at the bay (it’s a very narrow island). Like collecting seashells and watching sand crabs and surfers. Relaxing, how novel for me… Ah, the earthly distractions and delights, can we even imagine that the relaxation and good things of Heaven will be even better? With endless times? Mind-blowing.
And my FAVORITE weekend memory so UNIQUE in that the little church, the 1895 beach Chapel we visited, was PACKED to near gills with locals plus visitors, which made the already SUPER EXCITED special preacher in rotation over the top EXCITED to see so many gathering in His Name. He made a sure Daymark impression on me, of his love and amazing bounce of a beaming the Lord’s Love, not just teaching or preaching, but of REACHING with enthusiasm to tell us how much God made us unique, fearfully and wonderfully made, and how much God loves us, and gives us talents, and how he said he saw Jesus in all of us, COOL. He bounced. He beamed speaking how God made us in His Image, and some people were gregarious and some were quiet whispers of faith… true… He was probably one of the most genuine preacher persons whom I’ve seen physically MOVED in the moment, with tears in his eyes, oh his joy and expression of just the full house and of how God loves us, giving His Son, and this invoked tears in my eyes too – tears that I even got here (not just the beach but got to understand this IMMENSE love of Jesus – trust me this minute tiny opportunity of the moment truly escalated in enthusiasm, all in just one hour. He beamed in the receiving line too, after, of how I looked like a familiar friend and I looked like a professor with a trustworthy face.
We as a congregation of strangers drawn together by faith, also prayed for sad and grave situations but also praised amazing God-gifted circumstances and especially these beautiful growing children in front of the congregation who played cello and violin for music, for which grandma and mom both beamed by recording. I sat directly behind and photographed their photographs, framing family love. Oh this preacher beamed how God gave them talents, gave us all our uniqueness. Beautiful site. What a BOUNCE of a blessing from church in an already blessed beach beautiful day.
The scriptures Preacher spoke about included Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” And he spoke about us being made by God in His Image which then God called to be VERY GOOD. He bounced through that service, with a tear near at times in how we are loved and unique and how we can have an impact. He spoke of us being sometimes quiet whispers of God, he spoke of us each being not just a representative of Jesus but having Jesus beaming through us.
Ah, back to the lighthouse, that lighthouse beams at night but what about the day? Yes the Daymark. There was also a woman just about my age that I met, just before I climbed, sitting on that same shady bench as I finished my yummy lunch leftovers before climbing, who made a Daymark on me of her determination and witness. She has climbed this lighthouse every year, except when she had broken her leg in 3 spots, and it was closed during the pandemic plus had mold that needed remediating, but now came the opportunity and she wanted to climb it again for herself and be one of those encouragers to say “if I can do it, then you can!”… yeah, we appreciate those reminders, people who say: “Yes, I can !”, and make us whine less, doubt less, and be more.
The door keeper also was a Daymark for me, simply by offering to put my lunch box in his trash can, small gesture but needed. I was just going to hold it at the bottom but he was a nice gatekeeper and guided all in advice as well as greeting. He OPENED up his SMILE. The stairs had landings to rest. The views spectacular. My smiles!
Smiles, my former neighbor was nearby that shore town, at an assisted living facility, so I stopped by driving home. She recognized me by my smile and me by hers.
Smiles, the little children, at the convenience store later, invoked smiles from me. My crocs made unique and drew attention or maybe likely the Spirit within this little boy wanted to look directly at my face, at my spirit, face to face. It’s true that little ones look to engage us, whereas we grown-ups often look to disengage. Well, a little boy looking at me even with no words spoke volumes. I then communicated by commenting upon his purple croc shoes. PURPLE. I know this color this past week from a gathering in memory of my friends’ daughter who was lost at birth, 3 years ago, and how they showed me how their son, born after his sister, gravitate to the color purple (purple balls, purple paper) which they say was the color they chose for remembering their daughter. Cool. The little son wouldn’t know that but what a healing it is for them, both to have this child and to have this memory color remembered, Purple. This color is a Daymark for them.
In the convenience store, I pointed out those crocs and the little kids pointed out my crocs, of 2 tones, blue and yellow. Maybe this is my Daymark to some (actually some call me ‘Crocs Debbie’), or maybe simply the Light of my potential smile possibly peaked the curiosity of their spirit. The colors of objects are worldly Daymarks. Our faces speak with the image of God from not in this world and people look for the familiarity. We should try to remember to model Him, in patience, interest, and Joy.
I’ve been blessed to re-decompress in writing about one day trip, can you imagine all days in eternity where we get to reconnect and we get time by ourselves with the Lord? What is a Daymark for a forever? The Light and House of Heaven – God DOES keep the Light on for us… it was nice feeling His presence all day on this Sunday.
We need to look for the Lord on a Sunday (and any day) by following His Light by Night and by Day. Follow the Lord, rest in His Joy.
Amen Amen
Debbie Upper 