There is Beauty All Around

Ashley and me on the beach at Torrey Pines State Park

This week has been wonderful.  On Friday, Ashley and I flew down to San Diego to spend the weekend with her parents.  We've had a wonderful time seeing beaches, eating street tacos, and spending time with her parents.  The last time I had been in San Diego was 1990 for the Holiday Bowl with Rob and my cousin Becky and Aunt Marilyn.  So far as I can tell, Ty Detmer hasn't suffered two separated shoulders and BYU hasn't lost 62-14 this time, so it's been kinder to BYU football.

Upon arrival, I had a few realizations.  I realized that I had not seen any ocean since I saw the Atlantic Ocean from the window of my plane flying into New York City in 2009.  I had not seen the Pacific Ocean since returning from a family trip to Hawaii in 1997.  And I had not visited an ocean beach since that same trip, Waikiki being the last one I had been to.  Ashley and I laughed about this a little as we rode to her parents' home.  But it was only when we visited Black's beach in La Jolla later that afternoon that I realized just how much I had missed out on in all those years.  The distinct smell of oceanic waters, the constant tranquility and beauty of waves crashing on the shore, and the feel of sand under your feet.  All of these are such distinctive and wonderful feelings that simply can't be replicated anywhere else.

By nature I'm a bit of a home body.  As a historian there are dozens of places that I would love to visit, but by nature I get a little anxious being away from home.  This has been true of me for as long as I can remember.  The key has always been getting me out the door and onto the new destination, after which I begin to find the beautiful scenes and the wonderful people, and I start to feel at ease--so much so, that it becomes difficult for me to leave.  Some places have taken longer to grow on me than others, but I've never been in a place that I didn't grow to love if I had enough time.  (This of course excludes the Cincinnati airport, where I spent several miserable and anxious hours waiting to get on a plane in May 1999).

Perhaps it is good for us to remember the opening words to the hymn "Love at Home," for indeed "There is beauty all around."  Work and school and church and other duties are all vital and must be attended to.  But from time to time, I believe that God wants us to take a short break and enjoy the beauties of the world He has created for us; be those oceans, mountains, plains, etc.

Furthermore, while being at home is important and it is a blessing to want to be home, sometimes we need to go to different places.  In addition to adding variety and beauty to our lives, going to different places allows us to experience the beauty of coming home and finding that it is even more beautiful and wonderful than we had realized.

I'm grateful for the beauties of this earth and for the opportunities the Lord provides us to see it.

Brett