Tonight we walked on the beach at sunset. The sea lapped at my bare feet as I left footprints in the sand. We first noticed a NYPD helicopter circling above the sea. As we looked into the skies, we spied two drones. On the shore the lights of emergency vehicles suggested something amiss. As we drew closer, we could see a couple men paddling with surfboards. Emergency personnel and citizens all stood looking to the sea.
We asked a muscular Black man what was going on. He said he’d seen someone struggling a long ways out at sea. After more talk, he told us he’d taken a picture, and he showed it to us. He could not understand why someone would live so dangerously. He said, “That’s not how I want to to meet my Lord. I think my guardian angel would be disappointed in me.”
I replied, I just hope he was ready to go.” Our friend agreed.
Such a sad scene. (Not the first time we’ve been on Rockaway that someone has been lost at sea. The ocean and its rip currents are nothing to mess with.) Two police boats motored to the area.
We walked past the crowds facing the sea and onto the boardwalk. In astonishment we looked at the vast array of emergency vehicles, their lights on, lining the street. I have no idea how many to write that there were. Lots!
The effort to rescue the perishing was all encompassing.
“Rescue the perishing. Duty demands it. Jesus is merciful. Jesus will save.” Berniece
An Ordinary Life 