The Sea

I get an email each morning, in my inbox, from Henri Nouwen Society. Currently I am in California with my son and his family, along the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This prayer came through while I was here, and spoke to me.

Dear Lord,

Today I thought of the words of Vincent van Gogh: “It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.” You are the sea. Although I experience many ups and downs in my emotions and often feel great shifts and changes in my inner life, you remain the same. Your sameness is not the sameness of a rock, but the sameness of a faithful lover. Out of your love I came to life, by your love I am sustained, and to your love I am always called back. There are days of sadness and days of joy; there are feelings of guilt and feelings of gratitude; there are moments of failure and moments of success; but all of them are embraced by your unwavering love. . . . O Lord, sea of love and goodness, let me not fear too much the storms and winds of my daily life, and let me know there is ebb and flow but the sea remains the sea.

Amen.

by Henry J. M. Nouwen

14 thoughts on “The Sea”

  1. Valerie, I’ve never thought of van Gogh as a wordsmith. But this prayer, oh, this prayer. It definitely fits your situation and can apply to all of us through the ebbs and flows of life. Thank you for sharing this.

    1. You’re welcome. I, too, was surprised to read the quote by van Gogh.
      I love the sea image…water always speaks to me.
      The prayer can apply to so many areas of our lives, I think.

      1. Thank you for sharing. My ebbs and flows today are for ordinary daily challenges but I was feeling them extra strongly and the prayer was a blessing of grace. Our thoughts and prayers remain with your family.

        1. Thank you Sue.
          I was out on “the sea” yesterday, and thought of this prayer and the metaphor of God’s unconditional love.

  2. What a beautiful prayer 🙏. It is so true and one that we all need at times in our lives. Thank you.

    1. Thanks Barb.
      I especially love the sentence,
      “Out of your love I came to life, by your love I am sustained, and to your love I am always called back.”

  3. What a comforting and lovely prayer, Valerie. Thanks so much for sharing it. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

  5. Than you! … there is ebb and flow but the sea remains the sea.
    Much spiritual energy in Van Gogh’s paintings

  6. Thank you,Valerie for sharing this prayer. I have read it through several times and each time find a sentence or quote that applies to different factors of my life.

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