Assateague Island is a new adventure spot for the Weaver Fam. We took our first excursion with the Thompsons last Thursday. The island promises to be a place where many adventures will be found and created. Ryan can’t wait to let the air out of the Jeep’s tires and head out onto the beach… many reckless moments will be encountered by Ryan and Ryland at Assateauge Island. They will undoubtedly be accompanied by moments of tongue biting for me (Sometimes I won’t be able to stop my mother’s heart from holding back the wild men in my life, but I try to understand and encourage the wild hearts God placed in Ryan and Ryland).

This barrier island that spans from southern Maryland to northern Virginia (called Chincoteague on the VA part) is confusingly beautiful. The terrain has aspects of woodlands complete with feral horses (not wild horses cause they were brought from Europe and are descendants of domesticated horses), yet looks like a desert in places, contains fine white sandy dunes and beaches, and has swamp like areas. I found myself grasping to understand its beauty based upon other places I’d been. I tried unsuccessfully to place it in a neat little category of like places I’d seen before. But there was no such category. 

Sometimes I face this same dilemma when God allows me to see glimpses of His overwhelming beauty. I try to relate it to previous experiences or reduce it down to something I understand. But you can’t reduce the captivating beauty of Christ. You can only relinquish your self-centered perspective and revel in the Holy.  We must experience and stop trying to understand. Abba will provide the wisdom and discernment through our relating to Him.

I am longing for our next adventure at Assateague… there is so much to explore and experience. Here are a few kisses of beauty I captured. May you all enjoy God’s creation as I have.