08/21/2026
“Sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada” Ps. 43:3
Cik tā ir brīnišķīga sajūta, būt Latvijā vasarā! Esot tur, vienmēr gribas, lai laiks tecētu mazlietiņ lēnāk, lai minūtei būtu vismaz 90 sekundes, lai nedēļa 10 dienu garumā. Latviju ātrumā nemaz nevar sajust. Latvija jāpiedzīvo lēnām. Tikai tā var ar garāmgājēju stārķi aprunāties. Tikai tā var pamanīt, kā acu priekšā briest āboli un ko dzied krastā ienākošais vilnis.
Šogad jūlijs Latvijā bija neparedzams, laika apstākļi mainījās ātrāk nekā svārstīgs garastāvoklis. Sev uzdāvināju iespēju trīs dienas pavadīt Liepājā, atklātās jūras malā. Lai arī bija jūlija vidus, dienas bija aukstas, nomākušās, tumšas, lietusgāzes pārsteidza nesagatavotos. Spītējot vēja pieskāriena dzestrumam, staigāju gar jūras malu. Laika apstākļu dēļ diezgan tukšu pludmali. Draudzenes - kaijas – kaut ko neapmierinātībā kliedza. Basām kājām staigājot, smiltis, jūras sāļumu zem pēdām jūtot, dzīvi var sākt citādāk izprast. Tā es netīšām, pa pludmali ejot, aizstaigāju līdz smilšu skulptūrām. Dažas dienas iepriekš bija notikuši Liepājas Jūras svētki, kas ir otri lielākie vasaras svētki Latvijā aiz Līgo. Jūras svētkus Liepājā iesāka svinēt jau tālajā 1936 gadā. Kā ierasts – katru gadu ir smilšu skulptūru izstāde, šogad bija skulptūras ar Liepājas simboliem (enkuru, Ziemeļu forti, tramvaju u.c.). Bet es apstājos pie smilšu bākas. Apmākušajā, lietainajā, vējainajā dienā tieši tā mani visvairāk uzrunāja. Pat smilšu bāka stāv arī vētrās — un varbūt tāpēc tā ir tik spēcīgs Dieva klātbūtnes un vadīšanas simbols. Mēs ne vienmēr redzam visu ceļu, bet mums ir vajadzīga gaisma, kas rāda nākamo soli, un patiesība, kas palīdz nepazaudēt virzienu. Skatoties smilšu bākā kā altārgleznā, tapa mana lūgšana – litānija. Varbūt tu vēlies tai pievienoties:
“Dievs, dzīves vētru laikā,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad manu dzīves kuģi vēji un viļņi mētā,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad neredzu krastu un nezinu, kurp doties,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad ceļš manā priekšā ir miglā tīts,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad nezinu, kurš ceļš ir pareizais,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad man pietrūkst drosmes spert nākamo soli,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad mana sirds ir nemiera pilna,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad mani pārņem skumjas, vientulība un neatbildami jautājumi,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, māci mani saskatīt patiesību arī tad, kad tā sāp,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, māci man pieņemt Tavu prātu un gribu, pat, ja tas ir kā neaptverama jūra,
Sūti savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad dzīve ir skaista un mana sirds ir prieka pilna kā vasara,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad es saņemu vairāk, nekā esmu cerējis,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, kad es redzu cilvēku, kurš ir apmaldījies savā tumsā,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, palīdzi man pašam kļūt par gaismu kādam citam,
sūti Savu gaismu un Savu patiesību, ka tās mani vada.
Dievs, esi bāka manā ikdienā
lai Tava gaisma rāda ceļu manā dzīvē."
Tu redzi? Pastaiga jūras malā, nesteidzoties, var kļūt par vasaras un varbūt pat visa gada garāko, patiesāko lūgšanu! Līdz ar to – neatņemami svēta un svarīga. Es šo bākas altārgleznu nēsāšu savās domās līdzi.
Māc. Aija
“Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me” Psalm 43:3
How wonderful it is to be in Latvia in the summer! Whenever I am there, I always wish time would move just a little more slowly—that a minute had at least ninety seconds, that a week somehow had at least 10 days. Latvia cannot really be felt in a hurry. Latvia has to be experienced slowly. Only then can you stop and have a conversation with a passing stork. Only then can you notice apples ripening before your eyes and hear what the waves sing as they roll onto the shore.
This year, July in Latvia was unpredictable. The weather changed faster than a shifting mood. I gave myself the gift of spending three days in Liepāja, on the shores of the open sea. Although it was the middle of July, the days were cold, overcast, and dark, and sudden downpours caught the unprepared by surprise.
Despite the chill of the wind against my skin, I walked along the seashore—a beach made rather empty by the weather. My friends, the seagulls, were crying out in apparent dissatisfaction about something. Walking barefoot, feeling the sand and the salt of the sea beneath my feet, one can begin to understand life differently.
And so, almost by accident, as I walked along the beach, I came upon the sand sculptures.
A few days earlier, Liepāja had celebrated its Sea Festival, the second-largest summer celebration in Latvia after Līgo. The Sea Festival in Liepāja dates back as far as 1936. As is customary, there is a sand sculpture exhibition every year. This year, the sculptures featured symbols of Liepāja—the anchor, the Northern Forts, the tram, and others.
But I stopped at the sand lighthouse.
On that overcast, rainy, windy day, it was the one that spoke to me most deeply. Even a lighthouse made of sand stands through storms—and perhaps that is why it became such a powerful symbol of God's presence and guidance for me.
We do not always see the whole road ahead. But we need a light that shows us the next step, and a truth that helps us not lose our direction. Looking at the sand lighthouse almost as one might gaze at an altarpiece, a prayer—a litany—began to take shape within me. Perhaps you would like to join me:
"God, in the storms of life,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when the winds and waves toss the ship of my life,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when I cannot see the shore and do not know where to go,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when the road before me is covered in mist,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when I do not know which path is the right one,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when I lack the courage to take the next step,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when my heart is full of unrest,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when I am overcome by sorrow, loneliness, and unanswered questions,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, teach me to recognize the truth, even when it hurts,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, teach me to accept Your purpose and Your will, even when it seems as vast and unfathomable as the sea,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when life is beautiful, and my heart is as full of joy as summer itself,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when I receive more than I ever hoped for,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, when I see someone who is lost in their own darkness,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, help me myself become a light for someone else,
send Your light and Your truth, that they may guide me.
God, be a lighthouse in my everyday life;
may Your light show me the way through my life."
Do you see? A walk along the seashore, taken slowly and without hurry, can become the longest and truest prayer of the summer—and perhaps even of the entire year. And therefore, it becomes something undeniably sacred and important. I will carry the image of this lighthouse, like an altarpiece, with me in my thoughts, close to my heart.
Rev. Aija
