Musing on Seeing the Sea.
“It sounded something like the ocean, which she had seen once with Angel in Mexico.” The Bean Trees.
A line from Barbara Kingsolver’s novel caught me.
Seen the ocean only once. What would that be like?
There must be millions of souls on the planet who have never seen the sea.
That thought devastates me.
It surely isn’t devastating for someone who has never experienced the ocean.
I once saw a border collie on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He scurried down a sandy path, tripped up the boardwalk and ran toward the wind-whipped water at the end of the walk.
When the black and white dog got to the edge he stopped — looked out at the vast Atlantic — turned around and trotted past his owners, down the walk, onto the sandy path and I only assume, back to the safety of his rental house, never looking back.
Border collies are smarter than a lot of folks stalking the planet on two legs.
I can’t imagine life without seeing the sea. Or worse, seeing it then turning your back.
Whatever it be, that you see as the sea.
Breathe deeply
of the sea that feeds.
I, too, am a water-baby. Growing up on boats or and by the shore all my life. Still, I never really saw the ocean until I went on my first cruise for my honeymoon.
Connecticut is a shoreline state, but even from the beaches you can see Long Island in the distance, our captor from the open sea. Long Island stretches the lenght of CT leaving us with black, murky sound water, you couldn’t pay me to flip a toe into. Still, it’s a beautiful sight and all I knew until May 19th, 1996 when our cruise ship set sail and for the first time, I saw blue water. Blue. Blue, like in the pictures above. I was mesmerized. And surprised. And dumbfounded that it just never occured to me that the ocean was really that color. I only knew what I had ever known. Makes me wonder why I chose to live here and not on the other side of the that island that blocks my view.
Jamie, more and more I love the beach. It’s so serene and reminds me of the vastness of God’s creation. I can’t help but sit and reflect while I’m lounging on the sandy shore–soaking up His rays of love.
Thanks for sharing.
Daphne
http://blog.daphnewrites.com
Daphne ~ to me it’s where I can experience the awesomeness and the intimacy of God’s love wrapped in one moment.
Ginger ~ I love that last thought. If that isn’t a great first line to novel. I grew up on the Atlantic which is is grey blue. I never discovered the Gulf and it’s white sand and blue water till after marriage. But — now since age continues to add years, I guess I’ve been coming to the Gulf over half my life.
I remember when the kids were babies and experiencing the ocean for the first time! I am so glad we’ve all been able to experience it frequently since then. Our “shore” has been Lake MI, Lake Superior and now Lake
Erie since being married and I am so grateful to being around water all of the time:)
Anne, I remember hearing about those days living on the bluff over Lake Michigan. I bet it’s pretty and cold.
I love the sound of the sea and the occasional cry of “Joe hit me!” Good times.
Yeah. From one who has escaped to the safety of his office 50 miles away.
momma daddy is talking about me!!!!! but i do love the sea thats y i am going to buy a golf cart found 1 for like 175$ its my duty and my mission
I think that’s an excellent use of your $. A golf cart is exactly what you need.
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