Beach Meditation
Birds travel in flocks, cows graze in herds, and people hang out in throngs. A throng is what I would call the turnout of people at the beach today, the first truly sunny day since we arrived. The crowd of people and activity is dizzying.
“All these people … and imagine; every person has to have one of everything,” I say to my husband, Joe.
“One chair, one pail, one shovel, one boogie board, one blender, one bed, one butter dish, and a spare butter dish …” he trails off on a roll.
“It’s overwhelming,” I say, while visualizing every person with the miles of the stuff they each own.
“Look at the water and the horizon,” Joe suggests. “It will put things in perspective.”
I do. It glistens like glass, crashes and breaks, draws in swimmers and then spits them out like seeds. Untiring and untamed, the longer I stare at the ocean, the more all else seems like an illusion.
“You have to look beyond the clutter in front to get to the hidden magic. You know, like what you have to do to see computer generated art,” I say to Joe.
After that, we both gaze out into the horizon like two Buddhas seeking nirvana.
July 25th, 2006 1:05 pm
Ahh….this is more like it! Enjoying all that surrounds you and tuning out the unnecessary.
Enjoy your beach time…all too soon this too shall pass.
July 25th, 2006 1:54 pm
I am so lucky the beach at the end of my road is usually deserted. And, when I go to my favorite beach in the evening not many people are there. Gazing at the ocean is one of the most relaxing things I can think of…..
Thanks the Goddess you are staying away from the news. You are aren’t you? You are on vacation….
July 25th, 2006 2:30 pm
Yes yes yes.
Sometimes I think that “clutter free” would be a good description of heaven.
Glad you and Joe are having fun.
July 25th, 2006 2:34 pm
that’s what I was doing Sunday night…just staring, staring at the ocean, the waves…
July 25th, 2006 2:42 pm
Your picture of the ocean and the horizon is lovely. Sounds like you have a very thoughtful mate…I agree, it puts things into perspective. Enjoy!
July 25th, 2006 5:12 pm
Good Analogy Kath…..Heaven is clutter free!!!!
I miss you Coll, when will you be home? xo
July 25th, 2006 5:22 pm
All those people on the beach and no one in the water? Riptide flags out or shark sightings? How come?
July 25th, 2006 6:08 pm
I must confess that the shot of the ocean was taken the cloudy evening that we arrived at the beach. It was all I had of the acutal ocean and I used it to show the contrast.
We should be home by Thursday! xo
July 25th, 2006 10:05 pm
Nice observations. It looks like we are on a similar schedule. Our beach was packed today too. And we will be home Thursday too.
July 25th, 2006 11:06 pm
If you can’t find nirvana on a beach, you’re dead inside, huh? Those photo are beautiful. I love the clouds in the top one.