The particular beach where my annual retreat takes place, has as I suppose all beaches do, a personality of sorts all its own. On Sunday of last week, there was a brief storm, after which I decided to go out for a walk. The rough surf during the storm formed a bit of a ridge in the sand close to the shoreline. This ridge formed a nice little sandy bench for me to sit with God and my thoughts.

As I sat gazing out on the steel gray sea, I began to think about the “personality and moods” of the sea. Just like us, the sea, depending on the day and climate, can have varying moods. The day before this storm, the sea was calm and a deep marine blue with some tinges of green and the very next day cold gray and rough. Our own moods too depend upon our surroundings and inner and outer circumstances.

In my own life, my moods are sometimes a reaction to what is going on in and around me~my health, the good or not so good moods of others, and sometimes even the weather.

I sat and watched the crashing waves for quite some time that day and thought about how on the surface the sea seemed agitated, maybe even a bit angry, but farther out and deeper still there was most likely a calm I could not see.

In meditating and reflecting on the sea’s moods, it came to me that no matter what, the sea as one of God’s creations always does what God created it to do thus glorifying its Creator. If we keep God at and as our center, trying our best to live up to being the men and women He created us to be, even on our stormiest days we will find the peace and the calm in that deep and still Center within our souls where God dwells.

Sometimes the sea is a great teacher and speaks volumes!

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