Zoe and Ned had decided to come to the beach on a spur of the moment impulse. They were both on Easter break and it seemed like a great idea. They were young college students who lived about an hour away from the white sands and rolling surf of the Gulf of Mexico. But when they got there, they found that there were no rooms available at the only motel on the beach. “We’ll just spend the night in between some sand dunes. There won’t be anyone around, and we’ve got blankets and sleeping bags in the trunk,” suggested Zoe.
It was a glorious spring day and the ocean drew them close with it’s powerful charm. “Tomorrow’s Easter.” said Ned as they parked their car and began to unload beach chairs, towels, and a cooler full of snacks and wine.
“Guess the Easter bunny will just have to hop over the dunes to find us!” laughed Zoe.
They walked, talked, made a sand castle and swam in the warm, inviting sea. Then, they visited a few bars, and had dinner at a nearby cafe.
Then, they retired to the beach.They watched the stars and drank wine until they fell asleep on the soft sand, empty wine bottles and hastily shed clothes surrounding them. The hypnotic rhythm of the waves brought them vivid dreams, full of color and song. Ned began dreaming of angels. The heavenly choir soothed and mesmerized him as he slept. Zoe also dreamt of celestial harmonies. The singing got louder and louder, as if coming closer to the dreamers. Ned wriggled around in his sleeping bag, feeling the urge to relieve himself, but wanting to keep on sleeping, too. Finally, he opened his eyes. The music was still there. Groggily, he pushed away some wine bottles and wet clothes. “What’s that sound?” asked Zoe as she yawned herself awake.
Then, there was a short period of silence, so Ned got up and did his business on the salty shore. Zoe turned over, shut her eyes, and tried to go back to sleep. And, just as the first sliver of orange/gold sunlight broke over the horizon, the angel choir struck up another hymn. Zoe sat up, bewildered. Ned got back into his sleeping bag and covered up his head with the blanket. For there, above them on top of the sand dune, stood the entire Baptist congregation - welcoming Easter with a sunrise service!
