Majestic Storm

I wake to the patter of rain over my head. The smell of coffee is wafting down the hall. I push myself out of bed to start my day. As I walk into the kitchen, the view from my family room catches my eye. I peer through a large picture frame window taking in the wonder of the powerful ocean. There are dunes that protect my home with buds of new growth. The beach grass is taking anchor to help the earth with the erosion that takes place with the constant wind blowing. Atop the dune are benches that allow you to sit and take in the beauty of the ocean and all of its glory. Just past the dunes are sand fences that help to control the wind and the stabilization of the dunes. These small wood posts are like armor against the power of Mother Earth. Once you pass the soldiers, you have miles of sand; it narrows in front of my view.

I think of the sand between my toes and the smell of the sweet ocean air. A place where people walk, soak in the rays of sun, gather to bond, a couple sharing their first kiss or children creating sand castles with their endless imagination. And then there is the ocean. The most powerful force, with waves crashing onto the sand, reminding me of the constant flow and force of the water that fills most of the earth. The water is gray now, matching the clouds in the sky. I revel at the endless marine life existing just below the surface of the water. It starts to rain hard. The skies have opened up, and it’s as if the universe is crying. Why is the sky crying? Could it be because of humanity? How we have taken advantage of this gift from God?

There is lightning raging from the sky where the horizon and ocean meet. It almost seems the myth that our world is flat might be true. The energy is fierce with loud thunder. I feel the force that comes from above. There are seagulls dancing in the sky, full of grace and beauty, determined to find their next meal just below the surface of the raging water. I hear the waves crashing, and it gives me a sense of calm in the fury between the sky and the expansive water just about 100 feet away from my touch.

There is a break now. The sky opens up to the far right. But wait. The blue sky is peeking through, tempting all of us who wait for the sun and our opportunity to put our toes in the sand. We are longing for our time to jump into the abyss of the ocean, sharing space with the marine life, another world we cannot see just below. I will wait for the moment to share the gift of what’s just outside my window and honor all of its beauty and glory. In this time of the pandemic, may we look out our windows and pray. Pray for the healing of the earth and all that it has to offer.

As I sit here and pray, many memories flush over me. I remember being young and loving the ocean. Sitting at the calm edge of the water lapping on the sandy edge with not a worry in the world. Then the rush I had when my boyfriend and I sat on a blanket with the sound of the surf and the dark sky sharing a kiss. The ocean and its uproarious fiery is a metaphor for my life.  I went through deep, dark, unknown, scary times that could have drowned me in its tumultuous storm, but the beauty of the blue sky and the sun breaking through represents the healing and hope I have today. Fly seagulls. Fly because I know I am.