Real McCoy

People hear about the rugged California coast.  From everything that I can see it appears that there is little belief that the waves are as relentless, water as cold, beach as rugged, or any of the other details that one naturally shares.  When one watches someone experience the scene for the first time the stark reality and realized belief is a visible transformation.
 
Yesterday the beach decision seemed questionable.  As we topped the mountains the fog bank was close and personal.  Our conversation drifted into a children’s conversation about driving on top of the clouds.  Anything was possible yet the chance of sun at the beach was generally dismissed by the group.  I was the only one who held to the thin thread of hope that sun was present where we least imagined.  As we arrived at the marker for the western most point of the USA my hope was confirmed as reality.  The fog forced itself into a thin opening into the mountain ranges and on our particular beach sun reigned!
 
As we rumbled across the rocks we took time to make angels in the sand, explore the warmer than expected tidal pools, and search out the resident hermit crabs and snails.  The scene, especially with the strong northerly wind, was surrealistic.  Every doubt that one brought about the scene was vanquished with the experience.  This was clearly the real McCoy!
 
The rest of the drive along the coast with mini excursions to another beach as well as an historic church with wonderful blackberries and cherry-plums waiting for us to harvest, merely affirmed the first experience.  This is the way northern California coastlines are supposed to be!
 
Do you know what God has planned?  Imagined being recreated, able to get big air skating, deal with relationship challenges with ease, and achieve everything you imagined.  The reality is that God gives each who is responding to God and “wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm [Jesus] making it up.”  (John 7.17)  See and know.