It's Sum-Sum-Summertime!

Cross on Ocean Grove Beach
photograph taken by Maude, 8/2012

THE BOARDWALK PAVILION

 

This glorious summer Sunday morning—

 

We’re drawn eastward

from north, south and west

by the magnetic pull

of God’s love-force

 

Drawn, to the old wooden pavilion

to the Atlantic, the Jersey shore

to the boards at God’s Square Mile—

Ocean Grove. Drawn

 

wearing khaki and denim

tees and tanks

sundresses, flip-flops

carrying water bottles

carrying Bibles

fanning ourselves

with song sheets

 

We fill the benches

then spill over

into the periphery

onto folding chairs, lawn chairs

beach blankets. Some stand

Some look for shade

 

It’s 80-plus and breezy

The sky, clear

The sea glistens

Waves slap the shore

merrily. We’re merry

 

Vacationers stroll past

Some peer; some stop

some smile; some don’t

Bikers pedal by

joggers jog

                                                                             

Hymnsong; guitar-strum

Son-smiles; praise dance

heart-moves; Kidz church

Gospel-preach

 

Agape flows outward

aboutward

 

Sea mist rises like incense

upward, Heavenward

toward the One

enthroned

 

We bask in the warmth

of His smile

 

of His warm, sunshiny love

                                                                                                      

Maude Carolan Pych

 

 

Five of our family women spent the first day of summer at my favorite spot at the Jersey Shore, Ocean Grove. We gazed at the ocean, put our toes in the sand and observed that there is still much restoration needed following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, last October. Then we enjoyed a delicious lunch outdoors at a café on Main Avenue, did a little shopping, and stopped for ice cream sundaes at Nagel's. Before heading home we drove past the Great Auditorium, the Victorians and the lovely tent houses which were decorated  beautifully with flowers and banners. The weather was perfect and so was our day trip to "God's Square Mile".