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By Betsy Ore Glass

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:1-2

Last week, I walked a pier and found a new perspective. I snapped many photos from my new vantage point. As I neared the end of the pier to the deep end, I had a little chuckle. I remember when I was little and walking to the end of the pier created fear because I could look down and maybe fall in! My parents would grab my hand and I would feel safe. I’ve been around piers all of my life. Each one is unique and tells its own story.

When the sun got too hot, I took refuge under the pier and found more to love about my day. It was cool, the ocean crashed into the pilings and left salt spray all over me. It was refreshing and breezy. It was overwhelming because I pondered what to shoot first! Taking pictures of the waves coming in through the pilings, the kids riding their boogie boards, the surfers, the plane flying overhead, the boat going by or the little children squealing with delight in touching a sand crab? Watching the old and young living their lives brought such joy to me. Families playing together, perfect weather, umbrellas as far as the eye could see. God’s beauty was on display for us all to enjoy.

I couldn’t talk about piers or pier fishing without saying we had many fishermen in our family, my grandfather, my uncle but the best of all was my mother. She had a knowing about how to bait a hook and what to do with it. Me, well I didn’t get that gene. That’s another story. I could never cozy up to the bloodworms or other live bait so I was content watching from afar! I’ve seen kids cast their first line. My son learned to fish on a pier and he is teaching his son to fish now. Moments to remember. My day at the pier was a time to reflect. Soaking in as much as I could while thinking of the past and present. A lot has changed, but in some ways, many things are the same.

But one thing is always the same. God is All. When God says to take shelter in Him, He means we are to follow Him and live in His shadow always and in all ways. When we say that He is first, we surrender to Him. When we do it His way and not our way, we are moving in the right direction. A firm foundation is very important. There may be times up ahead that may require a firm footing with regard to our faith. When we get whipped around in the storms of life like an unrelenting ’noreaster, we have to be rooted in God. His Word. His Comfort. His Protection. Take refuge in Him everyday in every way.

Betsy Ore Glass has long-standing ties to the Outer Banks. From Virginia Beach, her family bought a vacation cottage in the 60s and her love of the area began. Later in the 90s, Betsy and her husband bought a weekend cottage and introduced the area to their children. Then Betsy’s parents retired to KDH where the family gathered often. Reach her at betsyglass1@gmail.com. To learn more about her new book, Reflections by the Sea, visit betsyoreglass.com.

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