I have always been drawn to beaches. Not so that I can lie down in the sun, but so that I can take in the sight and sound of the waves. Watching the waves come in and rollback out, and feeling the soothing regularity of their rhythm, is entrancing. I instantly find myself in a calm, meditative state when I hear that sound.
Watching the ocean, like watching a sunrise, reminds me of the importance of learning to just be. Waves and sunrises and other natural beauties just are. The ocean waves are like the heartbeats of the earth – their motion is constant. They unconsciously remind us that we are part of something larger – part of a natural rhythm that needs no effort on our part to continue. By getting in touch with that rhythm, we are better able to get in touch with ourselves.
Maybe hearing the rhythm of the waves is reminiscent of hearing the beat of our mothers’ hearts when we were in their wombs. Maybe hearing the rhythm of the waves helps us remember that our hearts will continue to beat and we will continue to breath without having to accomplish anything to deserve the right exist. Maybe watching the waves reminds us that the Universe provides us with miracles of beauty everyday.
Just the other day I wrote about how I love being at the ocean just to listen to the pulsating of the waves as they crash against the shore. I love lying on a blanket on the sand feeling the heat of it, and listening to the vibration of the ocean. What I enjoy most about the beach is that I came alone and can listen to the rythym of nature, the waves, the seagulls, watching the blue sky as I doze off to dream. I love the support of mother earth while I give into the need to release and relax. I finally learned to love the sand just as much as the ocean as everything is a part of the design for living.
The ocean is soothing, isn’t it? The sights, sounds and rhythms all contribute to the experience.
I do agree with you Deb that the ocean can teach us so many spiritual lessons. Not only do the oceans abound naturally with marine life but they are a source of clean, fresh air on which our existence depends. They are also expressive of the fact that our Creator has already, in His infinite wisdom, provided all that we need for our life and happiness through His Providence.
They also remind us of so many aspects of our lives—like our restless nature; sometime our destructive natures; our dynamic natures, etc. But we cannot live without the oceans, like the sunshine. For through the cosmic processes of evaporation, our earth is recharged with an abundance of rain—the fresh water that farmers need; yea indeed that we all need. Our lives are therefore intimately linked with the oceans. Glory be to God for His creative wisdom and awesome power!
Anthony Brumble
Anthony,
I love your description of oceans as representative of our human nature – as kind of a macro version of each individual human being. Like the ocean, we are neither intrinsically “good” nor “bad.” Rather, we each have different aspects that can impact others in ways that can be constructive or destructive.
Maybe that’s another reason oceans can be so soothing to the soul – they help us just “be” and, at least momentarily, accept without judgment all the pieces that make up who we are.