Several years I saw this sign on the Oregon coast. If you’re not familiar with the northwest part of the U.S., the beaches are stunning, but not warm-lay-out-in-the-sun kind of beaches.
This is my life translation.
For your safety … be aware … of life hazards … of unusually high (Sneaker) waves of emotion.
It’s those dang sneaker waves that get you, right? I’m sure you’ve had them too. For me, at times of transition my sneaker waves tend to be most sneaky when I’m in transportation. Put me in a car alone and the tears just roll. Can I tell you how many times the final fall I was in Beijing and I knew it was my final fall, but it wasn’t public, that the tears started flowing as I walked home from Zumba. Everyone in the park, I’m sorry! I was the weird weepy foreigner. Thank you for looking away.
My predominant sneaker emotion is sadness, and might be yours as well. But if you have sneaker waves of annoyance, confusion, or others forms, don’t be surprised. They are called sneaker for a reason, they are sneaky!
Sneaker waves have been showing up in odd places these days and not as frequently as I thought they would. Cereal boxes, ball point pens, Dad’s voice on the answering machine.
WHOOSH! And an ordinary reaching for a mug becomes a walk down memory lane. The mug I got when I visited the Episcopalian church? Not just a mug. It’s so tall Dad like to eat his cereal in it and joked he should visit the Episcopalian church to get his own mug he liked it so much.
God is indeed interested in our safety, but sneaker waves are to be expected. The sign at the beach has been helpful to remember that when a wave comes, I’m not crazy, I’m normal. Life is hazardous, yes?! But we have not been left alone or without signs.
When were you last hit with a sneaker wave?
Oh my word! I love you today. Hi again from the shy girl…made in Oregon…transported to VA. Those sneaker emotions are about to drown me today. I’m here walking on water…Pray for me.
My most recent sneaker wave (recent meaning the past several months) is frustration, mainly at not being able to do so many things that I used to be able to do easily. It hit me again just this morning when I woke up, got up out of bed and promptly laid back down. It was either that or fall back down, because I was about to black out. So yeah, getting out of bed is one of those things that you think is just a given. Nope.
Fortunately, by dinner I was almost back to normal, whatever “normal” means these days. And I did get a lot of reading done while I spent most of today in bed.
The tears sneak up on me as well – I could be driving a car or talking with someone or just hear, smell or see something that causes the tears to roll.
Very well put! Sneaker emotions are a HUGE part of the grief process (and I guess life in general). They calm down after a while, but I don’t think they ever go away completely. You get sort of used to the inconvenience.
Amy you have no idea how much I needed this today. Thank you! I pray you will read my blog and be blessed beyond measure by this miracle I received. And thank you for praying because I know that you did. http://livingloveloudly.blogspot.com/2014/02/pre-approved-part-two-miracle.html
Sarah! What I love is that you know I prayed even though I hadn’t been able to comment. I read your first comment when I stopped in Limon, CO for a bathroom break on my trip out to Kansas. SO, I DID read it, but I couldn’t reply. I prayed as I drove and then I got this comment at a later stop! Now, I’m off to read your post :). Thanks for the original comment and the follow up one Sarah!
Today. Sitting at my desk while my grade 11 AS English class was working on their task in their notebooks. They were all working quietly, probably helped that I will let them listen to their headsets on individual writing assignments, when I looked around the room I was hit with a wave of how much I really & truly care & love this class and these students. It was definitely a sneaker wave! An overwhelming of love all at once.