We attended a conference at Cannon Beach, Oregon last weekend. Our room was right on the beach so we had a great view. On Saturday,  we saw huge flocks of sea gulls. I’ve never seen so many together as they were. The photo above gives a tiny example of them settling down in the water, swimming a bit, then as a group, they all took off, a blur of wings. We wondered why so many and why they were congregating.

Sunday, late morning, we understood why they may have been congregating.  Last Sunday was a King Tide.

Twice a year when the earth, sun, and moon line up, when the moon and the sun are at perigee and perihelion, we generally experience the greatest tidal ranges of the year. These resulting tides have informally been dubbed KING TIDES.

Here’s another example of the huge waves and logs that were tumbled about like twigs. It came so fast. We witnessed the usual stormy waves on Saturday and Sunday morning, but then, at high tide this happened.

I understand now why the sea gulls were flocking together the day before. Somehow instinctively, they knew something was coming. And it did.

Below, just north of Cannon Beach is Cape Disappointment.

So often, we are warned to watch for signs. An upcoming storm. A “King Tide.”

Do we really pay attention? On Facebook this week, there were multiple photos and videos of people caught up in the water, totally un-expecting the danger ahead of them. I watched one mom and her girl, walking along the beach and then a sneaker wave came on them like a giant hand and the girl was nearly swept away. Fortunately, the father was nearby and grabbed the girl like a rag doll and he rescued her. Another was of a woman swept off of her feet, washed up to the seawall, and finally, she got her footing and got out.

So often we are totally oblivious to the danger of creation. The wind. The ocean. The mountains.

Often scripture tells of of warning signs. That one day, Christ will return.

The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. And those who have died believing in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive will be gathered up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with the Lord forever (I Thessalonians 4: 16-17 NCV). 

Just like the family, as they walked on the beach, completely oblivious of the danger right in front of them. The woman, strolling the beach when suddenly, she is swept off of her feet by the raging wave. Do we really take in the words? I confess I don’t always. We even joke about it. But just like that sneaker wave where the little girl and the woman nearly lost their lives last Sunday, there were warning signs. Signs that warn of sneaker waves.

I understand that November 25, another King Tide will be coming to Cannon Beach–and all along the west coast with a 10.3 foot tide. I wonder if people will again be oblivious to that date. Will they stroll along the beach and all of a sudden be startled and perhaps swept into the waves like that little girl last Sunday? Probably. I’d not heard of a king tide until last Sunday.

The above passage concludes with:  So encourage each other with these words (verse 18).

Be encouraged with the words. Just as the King Tide is coming soon, November 25. As well, the King is coming for His people, too. Be encouraged.

I love how this song describes our Creative God:

Here’s the final verse:

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

See you next week!

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