Spring has returned to Florida which means warmer weather which means walking the beach again.  As always, the beach - the teacher, is there waiting to instruct those who take the time to observe and learn.

 

The weather forecasters have been reminding everyone that conditions are perfect for rip tides.  This occurs when the winds and waves push water towards the shore.  This buildup of water continues until it can find a trench between sand bars at which point the water rushes back out to sea.  This rushing stream of water is actually strongest at the surface although that cannot be discerned by the human eye.  Rather what is seen is either calm waters or rough surf, either which can be very tempting to an unsuspecting swimmer.

 

Lesson learned:  So it is with many people.  They see someone who appears to be calm and soothing or perhaps a bit exciting and enticing never realizing that they, in fact, are dangerous.  Their behavior lures the unsuspecting into their lives causing immense harm.  One should be cautious when becoming involved with others; they may well be a rip tide which can cause irreparable harm.

 

A little further down the beach I saw a woman then a man each with a metal detector.  They were walking slowly and methodically, waving those detectors in a two foot swath, heads down hoping to discover some treasure.  Yet there was treasure all around them.  A clear blue sky, the vista of that immense ocean, the beauty of the various birds on the beach.  They were so intent on myopically looking for treasure that they failed to see the beauty all around them. 

 

Lesson learned:  How many of us go through life in the same way, so focused on trying to find things of value that we fail to see the beauty all around us?

 

As I walked along I not only looked out to sea but also along the shore line.  The oceanfront is a series of buildings, some tall condos and hotels (limited to 75 ft. in height in Ormond Beach) while others are one and two story houses.  Some of the lots were over 200 ft. wide while others were probably 75 ft. wide at best.  The point is that regardless of whether you looked out at the ocean from a small home's window, a mansion's window or a mega-hotel, your view is the same.  Even if you were not staying or living in any of them but rather just visiting the beach for a few hours, the view is the same.

 

Lesson learned:  So it is with us.  So much of life that is beautiful is available to all of us, regardless of our circumstances.  But rather than enjoying the view - enjoying what is there for the taking, we spend our lives trying to first make things better.

 

Finally, there was the beach itself.  I prefer to walk at low tide when about 50 yd. of fairly level, hard packed sand is exposed for easier walking.  If you aren't aware and don't check you could end up on the beach at high tide when only the loose, deep sand is exposed making walking very difficult.