In my 20s, my dream was to live by the ocean and spend part of each day searching for seashells, watching the dolphins, listening to the sound of the waves, and walking the beach to find any treasures brought in by the tide.
That dream came true. For a few years, we lived in Naples, Florida. At that time, my children were young, both under the age of eight. My memories of going to the beach with the kids are happy memories. When the kids and I went to the beach, I felt that troubles, distractions, arguments, and worries vanished. The beach was my special sanctuary…my soul-soothing place of refuge!
The kids and I also visited the library and found special guidebooks so that we could learn to identify and memorize the names of all the shells and other creatures that we found at the beach. Our favorite time to go shelling was low tide. When the tide is low, you have a much better opportunity to find sand dollars or rare seashells. One day at low tide, my son found a crucifix fishbone that I still have and treasure.
Spiritual Metaphors
The ocean gives us many spiritual metaphors; for example, the sea catfish and the sand dollar have legends associated with them that point toward Christ. Tides are also intriguing symbolically. When the tide turns, it reverses direction—the energy is either contracting or expanding. The universe is contracting and expanding. When we breathe, we expand and contract. Our heartbeat is both an expansion and contraction.
All of life—the ocean included—is constantly expanding and contracting.
2019. Ja-lene’s granddaughter at the beach in Siesta Key, Fl.
c. 1989. Ja-lene and her children are at Beach in Naples, Fl.
Crucifix fish
Ariopsis felis (hardhead sea catfish, Ariidae) head skeleton sold as having attributes of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The arrangement of bones on the ventral surface of the head resembles a crucified person, a section looks like the shield of a Roman soldier, another section looks like a Roman sword and, when shaken, a sound like dice being cast is heard, reminiscent of Roman soldiers gambling for Christ’s garments. The sound is presumably loose otoliths.
The Legend of the Sand Dollar
It is said that Christ left the sand dollar as a symbol to help the evangelists teach the faith. The five holes commemorate the five wounds of Christ, while at the center on one side blooms the Easter lily, and at the lily’s heart the star of Bethlehem. The Christmas poinsettia is etched on the other side, a reminder of Christ’s birth. According to this legend, if you break the center, five white doves will be released to spread goodwill and peace.
When is the turn of the tide?
I can say with 100% certainty that the world changes every morning when we arise. It changes to some degree each and every day—good things, bad things, and things that make no difference happen.
Emperors, pharaohs, religious leaders, and kings and queens have ruled and told the people how to be and what to believe in. It still happens. However, those decision-makers have grown to include elected officials, corporate leaders, the new media, celebrities, and social media influencers. It used to be that you had to have the birthright or lineage to become an influencer, but now these leaders form the opinions of millions of people in a heartbeat.
The ability to share one’s opinions globally has launched us into a terrible place where most of what we read makes us angry. We seem to have lost touch with the ability to discuss our different opinions and viewpoints respectfully. I am ready for the tide to turn and to stop listening to those who wish to upset or create unnecessary fear. I am ready to regain my ability to experience heaven on earth, which I believe is best experienced when we regain our joy and appreciation for the beautiful gift of life given to us by God.
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