As I walked the beach, I thought about the waves rolling in
and out. As the tide goes out it leaves some dead shells, and some that cling
to the tide to head back out to the gulf. It is now illegal to take a live
shell. But for years our family would take live shells and boil them (there is some
sea creature living within it). We would create shell lamps and shell mirrors,
and anything shells. Looking back, I wonder if these creatures suffered. If
shell creatures have shell creature families. So I can rationalize killing a creature
for sustenance for myself, but to kill just to create beauty seems hard to
justify. Now we just scavenge for dead shells.
With the incoming and outgoing tide, some shell creatures live, some die, some get
washed away. The more adept shell creatures I imagine hides itself better so as not to be
picked (they dig themselves down in the sand). Such it is in life. We live our
lives. Some are more adept then others. We live for awhile, we die, some people
get swept away by the tides of life. Some dig deep and fight like hell for
life. And although each shell and its existence is unique, the tide coming in
and out, does so like clockwork, every day, it has a pattern that affects the shells
(and I imagine all sea life). Over time the waves have a discernible pattern that
we can determine and predict. I wonder and imagine that sea life can as well and
that helps them exist in their world.
But also that pattern of tides and gravity tells me of the interdependence
of all things that were created and came to be. Even if there is a scientific explanation
for it all, it is amazing. And if there are amazing things that create patterns
in and of the waves I must wonder if our lives and our universe have similar
patterns. Certainly in my life I have sensed repeating patterns. With more
experience and wisdom over time I have learned to better manage those down
cycles and take advantage of the upcycles. What patterns does the universe show us?
It is
true that patterns get disrupted, whether that be by an asteroid crashing, or
climate crisis affecting migratory patterns of birds, (and many other patterns) or lights on beaches
affecting patterns of baby sea turtles. So too in our life we have patterns interrupted
through unexpected tragedies. I do note that I only to point to interrupted
patterns due to the negative, not the positive. But I imagine, a pattern can be
interrupted by an act of courage, an act of kindness or the sight of beauty.
If
I noticed anything on the beach, even with the pattern of the waves and the
tide, is that even while that is predictable, everything in every moment is
changing. What shells come in, what
Shells go out. My interaction with the waves and shells
although might not affect the tide, but it affects that wave and those shells I
interact with. (and of course there are things we can do to affect the
direction of water). The weather beyond our control affects the pattern too.
I admit it is a little depressing thought that there is a
tide in our life and the universe, a constantly repeating direction that can be
altered, often impacted, but without major intervention cannot be changed. On the other hand I could be wrong. Or
perhaps we as some scientists speculate are part of a simulation created by
aliens (which would explain patterns), but I do not put much stock in that (because if we become aware of the simulation they will turn it off)
Or perhaps it is enough to be the
creature that digs deep and fights for survival to make a difference in the sea
of life, even when it cant change the whole tide. Perhaps if enough creatures
dig deep enough they can change the course of the tide. Perhaps it gives ours lives purpose. You can not count on an asteroid to change the world, so perhaps we should try an act of courage, acts of kindness and/or create something beautiful. You just have to
dig deep and survive and work to change the tide. This is what I thought when I took a walk on
the beach this Thanksgiving morning. I am not sure I even make sense of it all,
but it is what I experienced. What did you think about this morning.
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