I spent the last two days on a little island a couple hours from where I live. Ohio is my home, by choice, and one of my absolute favorite places to call my landing. Though my heart gets filled daily by rolling hills, lush fields of summer crops, the mysterious wonder of the wilderness in my backyard and let's not forget the recent proclamation of National Geographic that northeast Ohio, right where I reside, is rated in the top three places in the world to enjoy foliage in autumn(!) - sometimes the soul needs to see a large body of water, to get lost in it, or feel the trepidation of smallness beside a mountainside.

I meant to spend the whole day at the beach on the lake last Saturday, my usual place - Headlands - but it had to be canceled because of a sudden rain forecast. I found a way to soothe the day and enjoyed good conversation with a friend in a coffee shop - but it was that let-down that led me to think of an alternative. I had just read an article in our local paper giving reason why Lakeside is a great place to vacation for Ohioans looking for an escape. Lakeside is a gated community on the peninsula bordering Lake Eerie. I had heard of it along with the other couple islands off of the peninsula - Put-N-Bay & Kelley's Island. With a bit of research, gladly done by this wander-luster, I found a place that looked just right. Jenn, my coffee shop date, agreed to come with me - vouching that she needed a vacation too!

A few day's later we found ourselves on a ferry to Kelley's Island, putting our feet in the sand, warm sun shining on our bare skin and listening to gorgeous green waves crashing into the shore. We stayed in a gorgeous bed and breakfast on the shore doting east-coast charm, left windows open at night to hear the waves, enjoyed good seafood on the marina, backs on the dock stargazing, and long bike rides along the coast. Both of us looked at each other multiple times during the trip and said, "this is exactly what I needed." The lake did not disappoint.

As I sat on the porch one morning, I thanked Jesus for the water.

[Excerpt from my journal]
There is such a moving effect it has, healing really. The sound, the wind, the waves, the froth, the color... and all the things surrounding it - warmth, sand, sunshine.

I'm eternally grateful for little moments in life like these when you get a little taste of heaven. Long or short - sometimes it's just a quiet moment on a porch when you feel the wind sweep across your face as the sun is just coming up and you feel peace. These are tastes of heaven I believe.. a taste of what we were made for.

I often feel that on trips like this I should ponder some big thought or come home with a new revelation about life; new perspective. I'm grasping for a way to bring that wind-swept peace home with me - to make it last.

I think today, though, I just feel the need to say, "thank-you," close my eyes and feel the wind.

Thank-you Jesus.