In the Napoleonic Era, medical tourism gained popularity in Europe. Doctors prescribed trips to the shore to cure all manner of ailments, and people flocked to the coasts for the therapeutic properties of salt water and sea air. Everything from respiratory problems, illness because of poor sewage and water treatment in the cities, to ulcers and swelling were remedied with a beach vacation.
Today, visits to the shore are still linked to a reduction in cortisol production and increase in vitamin D. Some scientific studies even show that spending time in natural environments, including but not limited to seaside settings, leads to decreased mortality rates. [1] This is medical treatment I can get behind, and I offer myself as tribute to the pharmaceutical research associated with the healing benefits of sandy toes and salt-tousled hair.
Not long ago, with a heart heavy from dropping the last child off at a college a thousand miles from home, I stood at the shore of the Pacific Ocean. As waves lapped my ankles, comfort and peace washed into my heart, and the tears stopped flowing. God reminded me in that moment He is bigger than every life-changing event that comes our way, and He will never stop providing.
I know Psalm 23 tells us the Lord leads us beside quiet waters, but He restores our souls any time we can stand still and drink in His presence. He uses both other people and a vast earth, rich in natural wonders, to renew our peace and refresh our souls. Not a fan of the beach? Might I interest you in majestic sunsets, forests, and mountain scenery?
When God provided for Naomi through Ruth and Boaz, the women of her village proclaimed, “Praise be to God…He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.” Our Lord is the God of restoration and renewal.
Maybe medical tourism isn’t in your budget; God still offers an abundance of ways to bask in His glory and be refreshed in His presence. If you are overwhelmed or carrying burdens God never meant for you to hold, seek solace in Him. Get outside and breathe fresh air, touch grass, let Him lead you beside quiet waters and restore your soul.