How to Respond to the Unexpected
When I say I was hit by a BIG wave, I am speaking literally, a BIG wave. And after I rose above water and regrouped, I knew I would have a story to tell and a metaphor for the unexpected.
Let me share the details with you and lessons learned and please keep reading, there's some funny experiences…
Myself and two friends planned a nice, relaxing day at Aliso Creek beach, where the parking is easy, and the water is a beautiful turquoise color, and you feel as though you are at the Mediterranean sea.
When we arrived at the beach, we saw that it is was very short because the tides were so high. We settled into what seemed like a perfect spot at the top near the sidewalk. We snacked, visited, relaxed and were intrigued by how close the water was coming to us, but there was a big rock that seemed to block the water from rising over it and protecting us.
Until…the next thing I knew, I was flipped out of my beach chair and completely under water!!!!
I AM NOT A STRONG SWIMMER AT ALL!!!
I vaguely remember wondering what the heck happened and hoping to rise above the water soon…Lord, is this the way I’m going out???!!!???
My friend, Jan, had been standing and she said she looked down wondering how I was swept so quickly, but thought fast, reached down and pulled my arm up.
I didn’t panic. I was mostly shocked. When I understood that I was ok, I looked around and said "Where’s my purse? I need to get my phone!" (You know our lives are in our phones).
The BIG wave pushed all our belongings, (our chairs, blanket, cooler) into the parking lot behind us! I found my flip flops but both friends only found one of theirs. One lost a flip flop to the right foot, the other to the left, neither ever to be found… (and a funny side story is that they wore the same size so when they went to the restroom, they had mismatched flip flops but…it was better than being barefoot).
That BIG wave was so mighty, that a rear window in a parked van broke into pieces!
The lifeguards told us they had NEVER seen anything like this!
Well, we decided that we weren’t finished visiting yet, and we needed to let our stuff dry off so we could brush off some of the sand. So, we found a grassy patch in the parking lot, and continued a pleasant visit and looked at the ocean from a distance.
What do you do when the BIG wave, the unexpected, hits you?
· Maybe you had a tough conversation with a client?
· Or an employee suddenly resigns?
· Perhaps a tough medical diagnosis?
· There are many situations that occur…
Here are lessons I learned:
1. Give thanks to God that although unexpected, trust that things will work out
2. Stay calm -my friends were surprised I wasn’t panicked or screaming
3. Look around- we found almost all our belongings
4. Seek help – my friend pulled me out of the water
5. Keep the right perspective – none of us or others around us were hurt (although the little kids who had been busy building sand castles cried and exclaimed that they never wanted to come to the beach again)
6. Stay committed to enjoy life – we stayed and visited to enjoy the rest of our day at the beach.
I’d love to hear your lessons when the unexpected came. Please reply to this email and share.
I will visit that beach and others again, it’s usually soothing and relaxing.
In closing, because I am a woman of faith, and we will continue to have the unexpected hit us, I want to share this verse with you to encourage you:
The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11
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I am still a walking warrior and committed to the cause of breast cancer. I donate a percentage of my revenue and am blessed to be able to contribute by fundraising and walking (it's almost time for me to begin training).
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Michelle Beauchamp
