Walking on the beach at sunset last evening, waves gently lapping the shore, it occurred to me that the calming effect of the sea is buried deep in our collective DNA. No doubt, the first humans to reach the ocean experienced the same sense of tranquility, a connection that may stem from the evolution of life itself. After all, our genes are the offspring of ancient marine life, nourished and protected by the sea.
Like the sanderlings that scurried before us last evening, we remain dependent on the oceans, not only for the food that they provide but for atmospheric effects so vital to terrestrial ecosystems. Though we may fear the sea, unable to survive in her realm without the benefit of ships and specialized equipment, we admire her beauty and respect her power.
Indeed, the sea's power is manifest as I write this blog. Hurricane Patricia, having reached an intensity heretofore unrecorded in the Western Hemisphere, is pummeling Mexico and dropping torrential rain across southeast Texas and Louisiana; the sea may test our will but she gave us life. Even those of us who prefer mountain landscapes yearn to come home at times; there we connect with our origin and unburden our soul.
