{"id":4841,"date":"2010-08-31T00:05:00","date_gmt":"2010-08-31T00:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2010\/08\/sermons-in-sand.html"},"modified":"2010-08-31T00:05:00","modified_gmt":"2010-08-31T00:05:00","slug":"sermons-in-sand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2010\/08\/sermons-in-sand.html","title":{"rendered":"Sermons in sand"},"content":{"rendered":"

I just got home from two weeks in Ocean Pines, Maryland, about five miles from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a pretty neighborhood of cottages and boat docks and tall pines, where the most popular pastime among the natives appears to be dog-walking.  (During my visit, I also discovered two magical words: Harris Teeter.<\/a>  More on that later.)  The trip was a welcome and much-needed change of pace.<\/p>\n

Across the bay, in Ocean City<\/a> — beyond the boardwalk and the frozen custard stands and the screams of teenagers being hurled upside down on carnival rides — lies a stretch of sand that almost seems out of place.  The atmosphere there is usually hushed.  There’s always a crowd gathered, in awe.  Some people will be taking pictures.  Others will sit transfixed for several long minutes, just staring at the beach.  <\/p>\n

What they’re staring at are an improbable series of sculptures that have become local landmarks (sandmarks?).   They’re depictions of bible scenes, created by local artist Randy Hofman.<\/a>  It’s not unusual to find an evangelist along the boardwalk, explaining their significance and doing his part to save a soul or two.  I remember first seeing versions of these creations over 25 years ago, and was surprised, and moved, to see that they’re still there — altered, no doubt, and rebuilt from season to season.  But they remain a seaside mainstay.  <\/p>\n

And so it is that a venerable and timeless tradition of preaching on the seashore — one that began two thousand years ago — is carried on.  <\/p>\n

Take a look.<\/p>\n

\"sand1.JPG\"<\/a><\/span>
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\n\"sand2.JPG\"<\/a><\/span>
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\n\"IMG_1845.JPG\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I just got home from two weeks in Ocean Pines, Maryland, about five miles from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a pretty neighborhood of cottages and boat docks and tall pines, where the most popular pastime among the natives appears to be dog-walking.  (During my visit, I also discovered two magical words: Harris Teeter.  More on…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-my-world","category-this-that"],"yoast_head":"\nSermons in sand - The Deacon's Bench<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2010\/08\/sermons-in-sand.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sermons in sand - The Deacon's Bench\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I just got home from two weeks in Ocean Pines, Maryland, about five miles from the Atlantic Ocean. 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