Being Still in Maldives

We decided to spend the week long September school holidays in Maldives. I didn't do that much planning when I booked the holiday. How to you figure out which was the best amongst more than a thousand islands? I merely looked up booking.com for what seemed like a decent resort at a decent price. Later I found out that Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort situated at the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll is about 350km south of Male. It is 1 hour ahead of the Male timezone. After the 4.5 hour flight from Singapore to Male, there was a 3 hour wait for a 55 minute internal flight on Maldivian Air to Kaadedhdhoo Airport. After a 1/2 hour wait to sought out the luggage, we took a 10 minutes walk to the jetty for a 1/2 hour boat transfer to the resort. Had I known that it would take 12 hours door to door, I am not sure if I would have picked this resort.

But once here, I was awestruck by its beauty. It is a lovely resort with soft white sands and lush greenery to shade you from the warm tropical afternoon sun. It has that small South Indian village feel as you stroll around the island. The two room villa we booked was far larger and more luxurious than we had expected. The balcony opens up to an infinity pool and at the side are the stairs that lead you down to the dual blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Idyllic escape. We're probably the first to introduce kids to this honeymooner island.

Due to 3 hours time difference, I woke up at 3am this morning. I rolled around in bed for awhile before deciding to get up. I sat on the deck chair at the balcony to take in the sea breeze and the sounds of waves. Later my wife joined me and we both sat there staring in awe at the multitudes of stars in the clear morning skies. It reminded me of something I had read a couple of days back about the certainty of a Creator God and His immense authority. His authority to call the stars into existence. This is the same God who created the waters that are teeming with marine creatures. We saw this when we went to the beach after our breakfast. Fishes of various shapes and colours, giant clams and corals. I was fortunate enough to spot a baby black tip shark. God spoke this ecosystem into existence and set in them the instructions to multiply. Snorkeling at the drop zone reminds me again of how vast God's creative canvass is.

In the evening, I sat with my younger kids on the villa stairs to look at more fishes and the rising tides. In those peaceful moments, I was suddenly reminded of a Don Moen song "Be Still my Soul". The God who set the stars at the heights of the universe and placed the fishes in the depths of the ocean is sat at the stair with me. Whether this was me trying to fit in as many family vacations as I could in case I run out of time, or whether this was my escape from the thoughts of cancer, or whether this was just another beach holiday, whatever the reason, God is in my midst. He too is a father watching over his children, spending time with them. For this reason, I can be still.

Be still my soul, Be still my soul
Cease from the labor and the toil
Refreshing springs of peace await
The troubled minds and hearts that ache

Be still my soul,  God knows your way
And He will guide, For His name's sake
Plunge in the rivers of His grace
Rest in the arms of His embrace

Be still my soul, Be still my soul
Though battles round you rage and roar
One thing you need and nothing more
To hear the whisper of your Lord

Be still My child, I know your way
And I will guide, For My name's sake
Plunge in the rivers of My grace
Rest in the arms of My embrace

Be still, be still my soul

~ Be Still My Soul, Don Moen