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LOOKING FOR THE OCEAN
It was a beautiful, hot summer day,
On a coral pink, sugar sand beach,
When I dove beneath the crystal blue surf,
Looking for the ocean.
I had enough air in my lungs to look long and to go deep,
Scanning for life below; sand, pebbles, shells, small fish,
The water was clear and I could see far,
But still no ocean in sight.
I had to go to the surface, though my quest was not done,
To fill my lungs again,
This time determined to find,
The ocean.
I was further from shore now, in deeper water,
I drew in air the way I used to as a kid,
When I wanted to swim the length of the pool underwater,
You know when you have a good lung full of air, it just feels right.
So I dove, pulling with cupped palms,
Kicking hard, wishing I had worn flippers,
Minding the pressure on my ears, I searched again,
For the ocean.
Two dolphins passed overhead, slowing to look, but not stopping,
I think one of them said, “Dude!”
But I can’t say for sure,
Because I was busy looking for the ocean.
I surfaced and dove repeatedly,
On and off again till sunset,
Then again the next day, and the next, and the next,
But no ocean.
I sat disheartened on the beach,
Sand stuck to my wet feet,
I watched the salt drying on my skin,
And listened to the crashing waves.
One last dive, I thought,
Thinking the way that treasure hunters do,
One last dive to find the ocean.
This time I meant business,
This time I brought an aqualung,
This time I could stay beneath the waves,
For ten times as long as before.
So I walked into the surf and fixed my air,
I don’t like the heavy gear,
Mask and tubes and metal,
It’s nothing like I heard the ocean was like.
Determined, I dove, further from shore,
Deeper than before,
Creatures galore,
A scientists dream.
I had only seconds of air left,
Just about out of resolve too,
When I heard it, crystal clear,
A still, small voice.
Saying, “You are in me, and I am in you.”
So now I rest upon the sugar sand,
And look at the ocean,
I smell the ocean,
I breathe in the ocean,
I hear the ocean,
I am made from the ocean,
And from time to time,
I dive into the ocean,
Vast and awesome,
Just so I can hear Him say again,
“You are in me, and I am in you.”
Sheila Willar – July 13/05
John 17:22,23 (KJV)
And the glory which thou gave me
I have given them;
That they may be one,
even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me,
that they may be made perfect in one;
And that the world may know
that thou hast sent me,
And hast loved them,
as thou hast loved me.
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