“Salvation does not come about by magic but by grace and faith.”
– Pope Leo XIV
While most of America seeks some type of beach vacation during the summer, those of us in an undefined radius around Philadelphia make our way to “the shore.”
To a native, a visit to the shore is as ubiquitous to summer as BBQ and fireworks on the Fourth of July. To an outsider, the custom has some peculiarities. For instance, we drive 2-3 hours in traffic along with the rest of our neighborhood to rent a tiny spot for the cost of a kidney. This might sound normal but, in addition to carting ourselves to the shore, we also bring our sheets, towels, and trash bags, so that you can cook in a kitchen every night with — you guessed it — supplies we bring and pay for with the other kidney.
From a grocery standpoint, the first half of the week begins in luxury with fun beach treats and choice meats for grilling. By Wednesday night however, parents begin strategizing how to gain the tiniest of victories: returning home with an empty cooler while not wasting any food. Salads take on a different look, and new condiments for hot dogs emerge.
This year, as I forced my youngest child to eat a grilled cheese sandwich with both Swiss and American cheese for one of our last lunches, she asked why we weren’t this intentional (she said “crazy”) about using all that we had back at home. “Because we know we’re only here for a short time and because we know we’re going home soon,” I retorted as I placed 13 pickles on my sandwich. “It’s hard living when you know you’re going home,” the precocious nine-year-old sighed.
After I pointed out how elevated her grilled cheese sandwich was, we went to the beach for one last hoorah. I couldn’t get the exchange out of my head. In life, leadership, and discipleship, am I living like I’m here forever or like I’m going home soon? Whether it’s what I do with my time, how I treat those around me — and yes, even with what food I waste — do I live in a way that reflects only the present moment or where I believe and hope I will end up?
Regardless of the shore point you’ll reach this summer, let’s remember the point of this whole adventure called life is to meet Him one day with as little in our coolers as possible.
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