A couple weekends ago, I took a solo trip to the coast. I was facing a complex and intimidating situation, and I needed some alone time to think and pray about things.
During my trip, I visited Neskowin Beach. It's along the Tillamook Coast, not far from Lincoln City. Neskowin is famous for its towering sea stack called Proposal Rock, and its collection of eerie tree stumps only visible at low tide, known as the Neskowin Ghost Forest.
As much as I love sleeping in, especially on a weekend getaway, I got up early so I could get to the beach at low tide and have the best chance of seeing these normally submerged tree trunks. Thankfully, there was a "minus tide" that morning, meaning that low tide was lower than usual.
This lower-than-low-tide did not disappoint. The ocean had receded far enough that I was able to walk all the way around Proposal Rock. It also left in its wake sea caves, cliff edges, and tide pools full of little hermit crabs, bright green sea anemones, purple and orange starfish, and millions of barnacles and mussels.
And, thankfully with the tide pulled back, I found a handful of those ancient, barnacle encrusted tree stumps emerging from the wet sand.
Scientists have different opinions about how these 2000+ year old trees ended up underwater.
Some believe that it happened suddenly when the last major earthquake hit off the Oregon Coast in 1700. Others think it happened more gradually as sand dunes shifted and slowly engulfed this section of forest. Either way, the stubby remains of these once towering trees are now preserved by the briny ocean water, a reminder of what used to be and is no more.
What used to be and is no more.
As I looked closely at these tree stumps, I was reminded that nothing is permanent.
The really hard seasons - times of grief, pain, anxiety, sickness - they don't last forever, which gives us a reason to hope and persist.
The really good times don't last either, which is gives us a reason to be fully present and grateful for every moment.
Take heart and choose hope my friend, this too shall pass.
