Tripping In The Abstract

It is not merely a random coincidence that life is mimicked in the beauty of a sandy beach. It’s all part of the grand design of the Artist who created life. A little reminder for you and me to refer to whenever we find ourselves off-kilter and wondering what exactly the point of our existence is. In times of turmoil, confusion, or if you find yourself in a stagnant phase, then perhaps a journey to a beach is in order. Here in this magical place where water and sand embrace, you may find a few answers to your life’s quandaries reflected on the shoreline.

As with the rhythm of the sea, so goes life. The ocean strokes the face of the sand with endless caresses of her waves. She touches gently then draws away, only to return her touch again. In between touches she leaves her lover wondrous gifts. Brightly colored shells that mirror the sun’s brilliance or the moon’s enchantment, shining in their magnificence, radiant as precious jewels. Some of the gifts are left onshore while others are reclaimed by the water. The same can be said of life.

Throughout our existence we too are given our own precious stones to marvel at. Some we are allowed to hold forever while life takes away the others. Be patient. When life takes your jewel, wait for the next wave. Your lost diamond may be replaced by a fiery ruby. If the ruby is claimed, you may be blessed with a sparkling sapphire. Cherish the treasures that you hold in your hand, whether they be family, friends, or your own self-worth. Life is forever changing, giving and taking. The ocean’s ebb and flow is as mysterious as its hidden depths.

I want to teach my girls as much as I can about the lessons from the beach. I want them to learn to build life’s sandcastles far enough from the surf so that they are safe and strong. I want them to explore life from end to end, finding many jewels in the sand. I wish for them to be brave enough to dive into the blue waters and feel the power of their own uniqueness and the elation of being alive. I hope to teach them to know when it’s too deep and how to get safely back to shore.

Most of all, I want them to see the footprints left on the beach. The long line that extends far back past the horizon. For that is the real treasures of life. Those footprints were left by those that came before us. They are a testament of how we came to be. They give affirmation as to who we are.

I want my daughters to see where I have walked on the beach. I want them to see where, for a time at least, we walked together in life. When my footsteps end, I want them to walk farther and find more jewels than I ever did in my lifetime.

I want them to remember me and that they were the most precious jewels that life ever gave to me.

If sometimes during their own walk on the beach they look back at the endless footsteps and they see mine and remember me, then my existence has been worthwhile.

For it is by their memories that I will become timeless, as eternal as the waves that wash majestically over the sand, reflecting the glory of life.