The Joy of the Simple
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.Psalm 113:3
"Thanks for the entertainment," the man said, as he passed by us en route to the sandy path back to the campground. "I came down here to watch the sunset, and didn't know there would be a log toss."
My husband and children, after amusing themselves at the water's edge, were standing beside me inspecting the amount of water damage to their street clothes and sneakers.
"Oh, you're welcome," my husband jokingly replied while everyone smiled, "Thanks for your help rolling the log."
Initially, our venture from the campsite was to watch the sunset over Lake Ontario. The short walk to the pebbly beach provided sufficient time to view the flaming orange circle, melt into its watery rest.
The sunset show ended in a matter of minutes, and my family's attention was then drawn to the rocks and stones underfoot. Not wanting to waste the still available light, my husband and sons proceeded to chuck their new-found ammo towards the watery expanse. A contest of who could throw the farthest ensued.
Soon, one of my sons discovered a piece of beached driftwood.
"Hey," he enthusiastically declared, while holding up his discovery for display, "Let's use this as a target." He proceeded to toss it into the surf, as all throwing effort was then directed at the now moving target. The farther out it bobbed, the greater the challenge became.
As interest started to wane, the need for a bigger and better target arose. An oversized log was soon the focus of attention. All efforts became centered on moving this large object into the water. Combined strength was sufficient for a dry roll to the water's edge. This is when the fellow sunset watcher offered his assistance. The remaining trek, however, was left to the few volunteers who didn't mind a sneaker soak. When the mission was accomplished, all then joined in a rowdy bombardment of the floating timber.
From my vantage point further up on shore, I enjoyed watching the chain of events. As my family's attention was diverted from the sunset to the rocks to the driftwood to the log, I found it interesting to observe the reactions of spectators, as their attention was then drawn to my family, provoking the excited man's comment.
I am thankful for my husband and children's ability to be resourceful. Their creativity for sport, with what is available, never ceases to amaze me. The blessing to my heart is that it is this creativity that provides the lasting memories.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the simple things in life and for the joy that they bring. Help me to keep my life uncomplicated, so as not to miss the joy of creativity.
