Riding the Wave

I've been thinking a lot about waves lately.  After all, life seems to come in waves these days.  My emotions are coming in waves for sure. We've heard it a thousand times- just ride the wave.  How does one do that?

When I think about waves my heart goes to Monterey, California.  It is the closest thing to my image of  Heaven that I have found on Earth.  Ocean meets mountains; mountains meet ocean.  I have been blessed to stand on the shore of the mighty Pacific Ocean and ponder the countless grains of sand as the waves crash near my feet.  I have been on a boat when it gave chase to rarely spotted Orca whales and the waves splashed all around me, spraying me with salt water.   I have listened to the sea lions and watched the otters play in small waves near the shore.  Surfers appear as spots on the horizon and glide gracefully to shore near Capitola, riding the waves.  The sun dances on the water, the air carries the taste of salt, and when I am there all is right with the world.  Needless to say my heart has been longing for Monterey over the past two months.  If I could just sit and listen to the waves for an hour things would certainly be easier to face. 

Things are coming at me in waves these days.  One minute I'm at the low point grasping for energy and collecting strength.  The next minute I'm at the peak and I can feel the sunshine and hear the birds and there's nothing that can stop me- except of course, like all waves do, I crash into the shore, my energy spent.  Then, the cycle repeats.  We've had so many highs and lows lately.  Waves are always more intense during storms. 

Riding the wave... the surfers in Capitola make it look so easy.  I heard once that truly good surfers make peace with the ocean, learn its patterns, welcome its changes, and go with the flow of the water.  I guess in that respect I'm learning to surf.  I need to make peace with cancer, learn ways to live with it, welcome its challenges, and go with the flow of the disease's course until it is defeated. 

The funniest thing about wave metaphors is that most of them deal with ups and downs and crashing and storms and noise.  They leave out how absolutely soothing a boat afloat on gentle waves can be, how relaxing that crashing sound is, how absolutely breathtaking the sheer power and strength of the water is to those on the shore.  There is definite beauty in waves.  I'm seeking the beauty in mine as I simply try to stay on the board.