The Ocean Tells us to Carpe Diem
Just like the ocean is different each day, we can also renew ourselves daily
I love the ocean. I love the blue waters. I love hearing the waves crashing on the shore. I love the white caps in the distance. I can sit by the ocean for hours upon hours. It is one of my favorite things in this world.
One thing I love most about the ocean is that it is never the same ocean twice. Each day brings a different character: some days, it is calm and inviting; other days, it is dangerous and intimidating. The tides ebb and flow by the hour. Each day brings a different companion, and this has always fascinated me.
When reflecting upon this point, it got me thinking about the human condition. It seems that we humans can get stuck in a rut for days upon days, weeks upon weeks, months upon months, years upon years. To us, it seems that once stuck, we can never get out.
The ocean reminds us otherwise.
Just as the ocean is different every day, just as the ocean is never the same ocean twice, the same opportunity is presented before us every day. Each day brings us the opportunity to be a different person, a better person, than the day before.
Each day we wake up, it is new chance given to us by the Precious Beloved to be a better version of ourselves. It is a new chance to act better, speak better, treat others better than yesterday. It is a new change to further our spiritual development on our way back to the Precious Beloved and His Divine Presence.
Scripture tells us:
God takes souls at the moment of their death, and those who die not, during their sleep. He withholds those for whom He has decreed death, and sends forth the others till a term appointed. Truly in that are signs for a people who reflect (39:42).
When we wake up, God has given us back our souls to live another day, to carpe diem as it were. We should take advantage and try our best to be a better person the next day, reflect over what our shortfalls we had the day before and try to not repeat them.
None of this assumes it is very easy. It takes active effort to reflect over yesterday and try to be better tomorrow. This is why I am writing this, as primarily a reminder to myself. I need to better remember - and be grateful for - the fact that each day I am given by the Lord is a chance to continuously improve myself.
If I can be like the ocean; if I can be a different - and hopefully better - person each day, then the crashing of the waves on the shore, which I love so much, will have benefitted me so much more than just a beautiful view on holiday.