Waves of memories lapped gently onto the shores of Sarah's mind as she stared at the lovely beachtown for the very last time. It was here where her first cries broke the stillness of the night; it was here where her tiny palms and delicate knees first met the sand; it was here where her tiny feet ambled and walked and ran and galloped and strode. All of her world has been till now - beautiful blue skies and endless ocean. Gripping tightly to her pink suitcase, Sarah tries desperately to capture the ole and familiar scene in her mind, albeit through a veil of watery mist. She hates to leave but she has to leave. The tides since 10 years ago has changed dramatically and it warns of an impending calamity. Some have already left silently without bidding goodbye.
As she looked out again into the expansive horizon for the final time, she noticed that something was amiss. The shore! It was never this huge before. And the fishes! Trouts which have always enjoyed a game of hide and seek with her father's fishing rods were flapping openly and gleaming dangerously along the shore. Glancing at the women, men, children and babies stretched across the beach, Sarah realized that it may all be too late. She threw her suitcase onto the sand, raced frantically across the beach and hollered at the top of her voice, 'Run everyone, run!' Gasping for breath, she cried, 'Tsunami!'
The beach goers sat up at the sound of the desperate cry that shrilled through the cool and calm air. But when they caught sight of the girl they knew from young, their startled faces broke into chuckles of relief and they returned to their sandcastles, their beach chairs and their picnic baskets. Even so, Sarah wouldn't stop her run - she couldn't. These were the people she knew and loved since young. It didn't matter if they thought she was a ranting lunatic. Her love for them compels her to act apart from herself. Her pleads of warning were greeted by expressions of amusement, bafflement and anger as well as hollers of 'Go home' and ' Stop disturbing the peace here'.
Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, Sarah caught sight of her best friend Cherrel basking in the sun. Without thinking, Sarah ran towards her best friend and grabbed Cherrel by her hands and started dragging Cherrel away from the shore and up the hill.
'What in the world is....,' yelled Cherrel as she struggled to get up on her two feet, 'Let go now!' Cherrel tried to flay her arms wildly to loosen Sarah's grip. But as if with renewed strength, Sarah gritted her teeth, tightened her grip and continued doggedly to pull Cherrel up the hill. This was the very hill which they had in their childhood race up in their flippers and slid down on their cardboard inspired sledges. But today, the way up the hill was the most treacherous and painful the two had ever experienced.
Finally, Sarah caught sight of the light coming through the trees and she collapsed in sheer exhaustion. Both of them laid on top of the hill disheveled, wounded and bruised. Through tears of anger and confusion, Cherrel glared at Sarah, her best friend of 30 years and tried to make sense of her apparently barbaric, rude, hurtful and absolutely unloving actions. It was then, that her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an angry thunderous roar. And when she saw the unforgiving waters greedily devour the beach and her home, Cherrel finally understood - Sarah's love had saved her life.
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:12-13
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