The beach is magical 

It’s where I go for sabbatical 

About three times a week 

It’s where I go to pray – or to just be 

Sometimes I don’t even speak

I just walk 

With my Golden retriever 

When I tell him we’re going, he’s always eager 

I watched him today as he floated along the sand

I thought in a melancholy way how nothing’s ever in my hands

The pup will break my heart – it’s just a matter of when

But for the time being, I just marveled at the horizon and the pelicans

We ran into a lady setting out flowers – for a proposal

In the golden atmosphere, I felt hopeful

I walked the strip where I spent my teens

Light purple-pillow clouds descended 

I toed the shore line where those curly conch shells are minted

Sometimes I feel like the white caps and my dog and the pelicans 

Maybe the seagulls too, are my only friends 

And those giant battered jetties 

Seem to never forget me 

Despite the signs to keep off 

Me and my dog bopped 

We’ll keep coming to this place forever 

Till time stops 

At low tide we sat on the rocks

As the sky turned blue-gold-purple-pink

I let myself pray and think 

My pup smiled 

Somewhere off in the distance a guy was on one knee 

Then on two legs, with a woman in his arms

I breathed 

Then in that moment I finally got what I desperately need:

I heard God say He loves me