TREASURE ISLAND

Have you ever been to Treasure Island?

It is one of the most beautiful beaches in the U.S., and my family and I felt so blessed to be there recently. It was named Treasure Island because of the many rumors of buried treasure beneath its sands. When we went however, I had no illusions of treasure beyond simply the name, the views, and the beach. But when I had some hours to unwind, God graced my heart afresh with an experience that will forever be a treasure. As I sat down in my sixth-floor balcony, my eyes were drawn first to the multicolored beach umbrellas down below, I then began watching the para-sails track their courses back and forth high above the water. My attention was riveted to the constant flow of people and the activity that flooded my view. The beach bikes formed an unending stream of traffic on the sidewalk from north to south, and then from east to west I could see those heading out to the beach or returning. The boats and jet skis continued to carve their wake just beyond the swimmers, almost too close I thought. The activity of life below me was almost like watching some television show. I had to remind myself that each one of these people had a life filled with dreams and problems and issues, to either solve or relish. As the scene continued its hypnotic flow, my attention was finally drawn to the horizon. The horizon, I thought, now that deserves some reflection.

Even though to my eyes it is a mere long line of division from the sea to the sky, for my heart and mind it is far more than that. Here was a beautiful, almost inspired reminder glistening in the summer sun. The question almost always comes to mind, what is just beyond that thin line of visual limit? For a minute I thought I saw a cruise ship. But it soon became more of a heart mystery than one of my vision. If this represents my life, just what is ever so slightly beyond my view? What is it that God, in His infinite wisdom and plan has prepared for me just beyond what I can see?

It is only reasonable, I remind myself, that I consistently make my decisions, based upon that which is on this side of my view. But I know that God has planned for me days and events beyond my sight. Since I am forever limited from seeing beyond, I am left to wish, hope, dream, and pray. If you were seated on that balcony with me on that warm island morning, as you looked out to your limit, what would be your wish, your dream?

What I found as I drank in the sight was that my heart wandered back and forth in and out of one prayer after another. When was I just thinking, and when was I praying, most of the time it was hard to tell. One thing was very clear to me however. I know that just beyond what I can see there are so many men and women that I will one day meet who desperately need to know my Savior. They are just over my horizon. There are precious souls who have seldom a clue of their need for salvation. They have seldom a reminder of the destination to which the course of their life is taking them. They are ships without a compass, vessels without a rudder. Their lives are sailing aimlessly on a sea of deception and desperation. My horizon began to provide first one question after another. How could my limited influence, my limited opportunities, my limited abilities, be of any effect for such people? It was a question of significant frustration. Then the Holy Spirit softly whispered to my soul, “that is my business”. His “business”? How incredible! Perhaps all I have to do is be faithful, and allow the Spirit to arrange the opportunities. I am often conflicted between what needs to happen, and what role is actually possible for me to fill. I am moved to be used of the Lord, and at the same time need to allow Him to have total control of everything that is just over the horizon. Then I was blessed to remember that the things that are just over the horizon, will at the proper time come into view, and we can be sure that God will continue to reveal his will and way for our lives.

Richard L. Lauby 62011