I'll Take the Shortcut

in #lifelast year

The ocean was angry, but probably not at the people standing in the parking lot in front of it with large signs. They said something about the Bible, but I didn’t look any closer because I didn’t want to accidentally make eye-contact. I don’t enjoy discussing God with strangers in parking lots. The ocean doesn’t either. Wind was whipping away their words, sending them up into the sky to be snapped up by the seagulls circling.

Perhaps there is more than one path to God, like there is more than one path to the beach. I picked one, thinking how this was a quick trip—just a short stop off to appease the children, since we were so close. It was the shortest path; it was the shortcut to appeasement.

20231214_120913.jpg

High tide had taken the beach. It ate it right up like some monster in a Greek myth, but don’t worry, everything will be just fine, because like how the gods put the heroes into the constellations so they would live forever, low tide will come and put the beach right back. Then we can talk about this story all over again six hours after that.

We sat on the seawall. The concrete was luxury compared to the slippery rocks beneath. The ocean was in a rage, throwing things around like a toddler with a tantrum. One wave was tossed here like a stray toy; one wave tossed there like a full juice box.

“Look! It’s snow,” the boy said as he watched the foam from one wave get piled on a little too thick and then take flight in the wind. I stared at the waves rising, and then crashing. There was something satisfying in it, and I couldn’t turn my eyes away.

20231214_121004.jpg

There has been so much anxiety lately, so many negative feelings coming and going, and staring at those waves, somehow that all seemed fair. Things crash sometimes. And it’s okay.

The children were restless. The shortcut to appeasement had backfired. With no beach, they were so appeased they were ready to leave. I stared on at the waves because somehow, once again, like I always do when I am away too long, I forgot that the ocean is the shortcut to something important.

Shall we call it the shortcut to God? The shortcut to peace, maybe? There is a magician holding out a deck of cards. Pick a card, any card. Pick your path to God.

I'll take the shortcut to the ocean every time.

Sort:  

I'd be happy to do some sea-wall sitting as well and rough weather can make it more appealing; there's something primal about it and watching a storm roll in can be an amazing experience.

We are getting an unusual December version of a tropical storm this weekend. I am enjoying it. There is something primal about it. And somehow primal feels good. It is a relief, or a release maybe. Sometimes things are too tidy in life, and you just need a little angry ocean.

we've had a strange sort of December in my area too, loads of thunder and lightening and rain too, which is unusual. It could be worse though, like up where my brother lives in far north Queensland (tropics) where they're being battered by a cyclone.

Primal can be good, humans are always trying to tame things, their surrounds, nature and all...sometimes it's good to defer to primordial feelings and being out in a storm, the attitude brought about by an impending storm can be quite enjoyable.

I went to sleep last night next to the glow of my Christmas tree while reading a book and listening to the rain attacking the ground. We got over 6 inches. So unusual for December, it was like summer and winter blended together. I hope you are enjoying your thunderstorms and your warm December.

That seems like a nice image, falling asleep with a book next to the Christmas tree while the rain falls outside. I'd take some of that action right about now. (Been a long and rather hellish day to be honest.)

I have joined your club - it has been a long day here in this time zone. And not done yet. The dishes await me. There has never been a more steadfast companion than a sink full of dirty dishes. They leave, but they always come back. I hope your day today is better.

Hey there...dishes. I have a dishwasher but also wash by hand now and then. These days I tend to do the washing and drying but when I was a kid I always wanted to wash because I could get done and bugger off to play Lego faster. #wellthoughtoutplan

I hope your nails and hands survived the hand washing...or that you had some moisturiser for afterwards.

Yeah, a better day today...tomorrow (Wednesday) is my last for this year...so much to do but I'll get it done and (hopefully) not have to do any work for several days until it all kicks off again.

Congratulations @ginnyannette! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)

<table><tr><td><img src="https://images.hive.blog/60x70/http://hivebuzz.me/@ginnyannette/upvoted.png?202312150724" /><td>You received more than 60000 upvotes.<br />Your next target is to reach 65000 upvotes. <tr><td><img src="https://images.hive.blog/60x70/http://hivebuzz.me/@ginnyannette/replies.png?202312150724" /><td>You got more than 7250 replies.<br />Your next target is to reach 7500 replies. <p dir="auto"><sub><em>You can view your badges on <a href="https://hivebuzz.me/@ginnyannette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" title="This link will take you away from hive.blog" class="external_link">your board and compare yourself to others in the <a href="https://hivebuzz.me/ranking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" title="This link will take you away from hive.blog" class="external_link">Ranking<br /> <sub><em>If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word <code>STOP <p dir="auto"><strong>Check out our last posts: <table><tr><td><a href="/hive-122221/@hivebuzz/lpud-202312"><img src="https://images.hive.blog/64x128/https://i.imgur.com/pVZi2Md.png" /><td><a href="/hive-122221/@hivebuzz/lpud-202312">LEO Power Up Day - December 15, 2023

I always feel the sea as a connection to the deepest primordial memories of my DNA. An ancient home.

That's a beautiful way of putting it. I feel it too.