A Playful Consideration of Perhaps a Message Received
One morning just over a week ago, the ocean was like a clear crystal pool. I have never seen it exactly so. It was almost as if it had decided to take a break from its normal commitment to function. Not possible, of course, but my mind reacted, not only in disbelief but with curiosity. I pondered what these thoughts meant for me in my own functioning life. Recently, thoughts of how to function, how to focus, and how to make progress with my self-imposed goals and commitments, have dominated my spirit and rendered me non-functioning in the normal ways I can usually experience.
And today, I saw the blue heron, visible later than usual. Did this mean it was demonstrating its realization that the weekend chaos of Semana Santa was over and a new safety on the beach would be possible?
Semana Santa is a big holiday here. Schools are closed for the whole week before Easter weekend. Families take the week as holiday and the hotels and beaches are busy, especially so on the last days Thursday to Easter Sunday. Here in this beach side community this means more noise and bumper to bumper traffic coming into and leaving the area during that last weekend.
It is also regarded as the start of the spring/summer season. Spirits are high with expectation of new beginnings in keeping with the religious symbolism of Easter.
But, before this week, there was preoccupation with the struggles of life, a calm or levelling, before the storm. Following the week there is new energy, and a new sense of hope.
What is the message for me if I observe the ocean’s stillness, the chaos of the following week, and then the safe behaviour of the heron? Forgive this mental and emotional play which I share with you. I think it is encouragement to accept the need and value of down time, even if it feels uncomfortable and debilitating. It could also support an acceptance of confusing overactive spurts of energy, and then release and renewed hope and focus.
If this has meaning for you, share your thoughts. Leave a comment, please.
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Hi Judith – life seems to ebb and flow and surge and recede all the time doesn’t it? I feel like I reach a lovely serene place and then life says “time to shake things up again”. Maybe we’d be too complacent if it was always easy, and too morose if it was always hard? So variety is the spice of life!
Leanne, Thank you for your comment. And I agree that the space in between is where the spice comes in along with the wisdom to make sure it is not too Picante (hot) as they say here.
I look at that picture and read your post and I hear… be still…. listen to silence.
Love it!
Hi Susan I know how you can relate to this with your experience here. The ocean speaks pearls of wisdom if we only listen. Thanks for sharing.
I find I receive the wisest lessons from nature. The trick for me is to listen to nature more consistently, not the voices in my head and my daytimer.
Hi Agnes Like the “trick” you mention to listen more consistently. For me, one of the ways to hear nature is having “boots on the ground”, but I’ll go one step further and suggest that having “feet on the ground” can be the hearing aid. Before moving to my island I walked on cement and asphalt; here I walk on grass and sand and the wise messages tend to come through loud and clear. Thank for commenting.
Hmmm… interesting. I walk my dog twice a day, I climb a small mountain every weekend, I walk with women once a week… pieces of the last outing is the only one that takes my feet off pavement. Will have to make a more concerted effort to find grass and sand!
Hi Judith!
I just wanted you to know how much I love that you are sharing your experiences. Can you believe it’s been seven years since we published? It was so great to have such a supportive accountabilibuddy. I hope all is well for you in the DR!
How great to hear from you. What has been happening with you? I am sure success has been continuing for you.