Battling the Sea
I used to try to fight against the waves. Each one would sweep me from my feet and knock the air from my lungs. Just when the salt had cleared from my eyes and I could breathe again, the next wave would come and again I would fall.
Now I am learning to ride the waves. In concert with the wave, I am in complete control of myself, and yet I am completely within the control of the wave. The wave determines how long, how tall, and how deep the ride will be. As the rider I can make the ride as fast or as slow as I like. If I choose, I can carve elegant patterns in the water’s surface, or I can just slice forward and feel the wind. The patterns that I carve will be gone in a moment, but that makes them no less beautiful.
At the end of the ride, I rest for as long as I need, and then I turn and paddle back out. I hardly notice small waves anymore; I glide over them and we do not disturb each other. When a promising swell comes along, I ride again.