SAND...what do you think of, when you hear the word SAND/
...the tranquility of a beach
...natures undulating, wide expansions of desert
...the dunes, from those called embryo , mobile,semi-fixed, fixed, to slacks & scrub
...the formations that are man-made called 'castles' some very intricate 
...perhaps you recall the Biblical verses

However you think of sand, IF you think about sand--you will admit that sand has and
will continue to play an important part in our lives.

We hear daily, lately, about the  "shifting sands of our world". the "building of sand castles in the sky"-
a reference to the recent [& continuing] situation in Dubai. the "sifting sands of Time"-often seen as logos for the Year's End & the start of the New Year; but now, as an indication of the world-wide economic,  political, & 'way-of-life' dramatic changes. 

We can easily visualize  'grains of sand in our clothes, on our feet, between our toes & on our floors.----
we can remember building our sand castles & waiting with dread to see if the next wave would take it out.

we all "know" that a good builder NEVER builds upon the sand. Right ? !
...again, with Biblical references: Matthew 7;[26-27] ...be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand.....the rain descended...floods came...wind blew & beat upon that house...& it fell."

...in reading the CR4 web site thread: Building on Sand.  
....comments about Israel & the whole West Coast of the Mediterranean..dotted with cities, towns, and infrastructure above and below ground, ALL built on sand. Loose sand...some times miles into the country. ...it is mostly dry, except for those build right above the waterfront. The key here is above the water front on dry, loose sand. This confirms the warning about building on the sand where "the rains descended and the FLOODS came..."  If you read this Thread you will see US and European builders who want to know how to safely build on the Oceanfront; you will read about pilings-types & thickness required,
...in an article by John Browne --'Shifting Sands' 13 Aug. 2009, he discusses the typhoon that pounded the Pacific coast where the power of the surge sucked away the sand beneath a multi-storied, stoutly built hotel; exposed it's foundation & caused it to fall over like " a massive domino."
What does this mean
...you can build upon sand, but must realize that,even if you 
...utilize all the proper engineered steps,
...know your geological make-up
...research the type of building desired
 all it takes will be that one / once in a lifetime massive storm to wipe it all out.
Sand castles are wondrous until they are in competition with the forces of Nature

We have studied or still study our religious teachings dealing with 'sand' stability' wisdom' strength,
We, who are schooled in the Christian faiths, recall:
...Genesis 22: [17] ..in multiplying, I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars.... and as the sand which is upon the seashore. Gen. 32;12 ...sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. & Gen.28: 14 ..your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth...spread ...west...east..north...south...'  

We all are aware that glass is nature-made or man-made; all glass contain silica-sand plus other minerals and is formed-fused by the addition of very High Heat.
... Nature= a. lightning as seen in Florida, the shores of Lake Michigan & the Atlantic coast that strikes the sand form "fulgurites' fragile, branch-like shapes.  b. lightning on rock usually on mountain peaks, produces a thin, glassy crust. and, c. meteorite collisions with earth = tektites-small glass objects; found world-wide except for Antarctica & S. America. 
...Man-made = glass objects made from the combination of silica, soda ash & limestone; various techniques are used; much fun in watching glass-blowers at work.

The references to sand / dust of the earth,...cause us;
... to pause, reflect, rejoice  & wonder how such a small item as a 'grain of sand'  can be the basis of;
...beliefs-both Religious and Scientific;
...of beaches, castles & dunes;
...of real objects as glass products-eye ware, drinking vessels, windows, etc.;
...of building structures that will stand the passage of time.
...lyrics to music, poems,  literary works & political articles.     

We don't need a microscope to understand the wonder of a grain of sand; we do need to see how many times in out daily lives we speak of the passage of time,  the changes we are experiencing at work, or the political events world-wide & in the USA-- as SAND movements.
Whether we use the analogy of wind-blown sands, the concept of 'quick-sand  , the forever gone grains of the 'Hour Glass', the ever changing sands of the Dunes, or the most remarkable Sand of the Deserts..we DO choose to explain 'things', 'events', 'choices' as similes to the nature of Sand.


Pretty neat, don't you think. Pretty neat! Job well done, Lord, job well done!  

     
                         ....refresh your beliefs
                          ....believe in your decisions
                           ....Know that as 'each grain of sand in known'--SO are YOU