An Unplanned Gathering of Strangers
When standing in the sand on the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, you receive a glimpse of infinity. You have no choice but to breathe it in. The healing effects are instantaneous and that is the moment infinity becomes personal.
It was a Sunday morning in late September at the end of a weekend getaway in Nova Scotia with three of my dearest friends. Just as expected, our stories and laughter were second to none. Days gone by and new revelations are always on our agenda. We are highly skilled at conjuring up new moments to add to our collection and that is exactly what we did during the hours we spent together in the cabin by the beach.
Ah, the beloved ocean, forever a piece of me. Along with my friends, I have missed it dearly over the years. It is always calling. I was determined on this year’s trip to catch a sunrise over the water. On the beautifully clear Saturday morning, that goal was accomplished and it did not disappoint us.
I was so mesmerized by this sunrise; I was eager to return the next day. One of my lifelong friends graciously accompanied me through the darkness to witness the wonders at dawn. Unlike the day before, it was very cloudy with the hint of autumn in the salt air. We had company on the beach at that dim hour. Several folks were along the length of the shore.
We were a few yards from a photographer with his tripod, well rehearsed in capturing the perfect angle. A young couple, close by in their bulky sweaters, had ventured out early for the 20-minute round trip to a coffee chain drive-thru. Another couple with the world’s most well-behaved dog had just rolled out of bed and out the front door of a nearby cabin. So, there we were with our unplanned gathering of strangers.
I was fussing about the cloud cover when it happened. I am sure it was akin to the first day of earth’s creation. The changing hues of the clouds announced the sun was rising before we could see it. When the sun peeked over the horizon, every cloud saw the cue and filled the sky with an extraordinary yet calming display of colour.
The waves gently rolled, inhale and exhale, a feeling I could not articulate. We kept softly repeating the words beautiful and gorgeous in between the silence yet that was not the whole picture and you could feel it.
Remembering the experience, I realize the energy of that Sunday sunrise was expansive. Friends, loved ones and strangers were one in the sensation of joy, wonder, and peace. We all shared that moment and took it with us whether we realized it or not.
Inner peace and infinity had inhabited the same space.
~ Sandra