The Edge of the Sea

I am blessed to live near a shore where the life-filled Salish Sea (Puget Sound) meets our perception of the land. I say perception because, of course, there is earth around and under the water and the sea creatures are aware of those deep landscapes in ways that we dry-land creatures are not. However, for us humanoids, we see the water touch the land at the shore. But there is not just one touch point. Anywhere there is tidal action there are two boundaries, the low tide and high tide lines. It's easy to think of three main types of animals on earth - land, water, and air creatures. However, there are many hundreds of amazing and miraculous animals and plants that live in this zone between water and air, between high and low tide. This is the "intertidal zone". These little miracles - algae, rockweed, barnacles, muscles, crabs, insects, anemone, and so many more - live in the ebb and flow of sea water as they exist for part of each day in air and part in water. They have developed astounding ways of not only staying alive in those changing conditions, but thriving fully.

If you are interested in exploring these beautiful spaces between high and low tide then I know of no better guide than Rachel Carson's book called "The Edge of the Sea". It is scientifically rich while also being hauntingly poetic. She was precise in her scientific knowledge while also being able to capture the beauty of creation with words, emotion, thought, and artistry.  

Entering Nature with eyes and soul open to see and experience the wonders of God's creativity is a marvelous spiritual discipline. One of the ways to enter into any natural space is to ready yourself by reading and learning about what you will encounter there.    Rachel Carson's book is such a guide and you will be primed to enter the intertidal zone with heart and mind at the ready and thus you will be exposed to Divine beauty and truth as never before.    

Sometimes these Divine truths revealed through Nature come as direct learning such as watching these creatures open themselves to Life with the wisest and most creative methods possible. We can prayerfully consider those models for our own opening to Life. And sometimes these Divine truths are revealed metaphorically. These creatures are content to live in the coming and going of both air and water and thus provide us with a powerful teaching of faith.  

We humans tend to become alarmed as things change.    When our perception of the presence of God is diminished we panic on many levels.  As love, comfort, security, and relationship seem to be leaving us we tremble and become very reactive. The predictable has become unpredictable. What we think is our grounding suddenly becomes cracked and unstable. Love, in its many forms, has receded and we are scared. We rush at God, others, and many forms of predictability in order to create a false sense of security and control. This is as futile as trying to drag a receding tide back up the shore to the high tide mark, no creature living in that zone would attempt such a bizarre and unnecessary thing.    

These creatures have found ways to sit in the air-world and wait for the return of the sea. They find ways to stay moist, to continue breathing in tide pools or stored sources of water, to find safety from predators, and to perhaps do a bit of hunting and gathering as well. They are skilled practitioners of patience, waiting, and trust. They know that the ebb of the tide will always be followed by the flow. The life-sustaining presence of water will return to embrace them once again. They don't panic in the waiting, believing wholeheartedly that absence is part of presence. Our soul needs these little teachers. They instruct our spirit.   They say "be still and know" because that for which your soul longs will return. Perhaps longing and stillness are part of faith itself. 

- Kirk Webb, Director of The Celtic Center  

---

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Celtic Center retreat!