My family has been going to the shores of Anna Maria Island in Florida for over 30 years. My sweetie Tera and I wrapped up my final days of sabbatical recently with another week in the blazing sun on the white sand beaches there. Nestled on the edge of the Southwest Channel connecting Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, Anna Maria is a slice of paradise far away from the high rise condos and traffic bustle of other coastal communities.
If you’ve been there, you know the beauty and various personalities of Anna Maria, Holmes, Manatee, Bradenton, Cortez, and Coquina beaches. Each one is lovely in their own distinct way. Each time we go, I am eager to explore these familiar places and also discover how the island has changed.
One of my deep joys includes seeing how the tides and winds have reshaped the island since my last trip. While so much remains the same, there are always shifts in dunes and shorelines. This was especially noticeable on this visit since I hadn’t been there for several years.
You may remember that October 2024 brought back-to-back hurricanes which devastated the area. Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton handed Anna Maria and western Florida a lethal blow from which they are still recovering. Billions of dollars in damage and loss of lives are fresh wounds in the community. Several businesses and homes are still under repair, while other plots of land have been wiped clean for a fresh start. Through it all, the waves of the Gulf continue to roll ashore in their life-giving cycle of ebb and flow.
My return to Lord of Life has me filled with excitement. Not only am I thrilled for our moments of reunion and connection, but September brings anticipation as we lean into familiar rhythms of autumn life together. Sure, there are favorite places to land with people and patterns we love, but there are also a variety of new places and patterns for us to discover together. I invite you to consider:
How are the winds of creation and the breath of God reshaping you?
How is the constant ebb and flow of baptismal promises bringing you renewal?
How do the storms of life reshape your heart, mind, and life?
If they’ve destroyed you, how is God working in you to build for the next season?
Thank you again for the gift of time away for rest and renewal. It was a tremendous blessing that filled and fueled me. I’m excited to explore and discover the landscape of our lives in Christ with you this year.
Please be sure to join me on Sunday, September 20, 5:30 - 7:30 pm for a Summer Sabbatical Celebration. We’ll share a meal together and then settle in for a sabbatical recap. Please RSVP by emailing Jillian (
Being shaped by God’s love,
Pastor Lowell