Under the Blood Red Moon

"Promise me, you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim." That phrase has been turning over in my mind for days now. After spending days pondering this phrase, it occurred to me that in all my time at the beach, I've stood on the edge of the ocean, filled with this longing, to enter the waves and feel the ocean wrap its arms around me in its cool embrace, and yet, I found myself only standing on the edge, filled with a longing that could only be satisfied by the water.
Yesterday, under the blood red moon, I ventured into the dark waters of the ocean. I found myself nervous at first. Hesitantly, I approached the waters edge and waited for the waves to run over my toes as they began to sink into the cool sand. I braced myself as the first wave crashed onto the shore, it was warm! In a purely impulsive moment, I ran into the water. To my surprise it was warm. I swam out past the sand bar and stood, in the water, letting the waves move me. I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the waves. BOOM- Kaboom! My eyes jerked open as I looked to the sky above me. It was filling with bright colors and smoke. The firework display had begun and as I watched from my stationary spot in the ocean, I felt as though I were the only one in the world watching the display, and in my state of being alone, I didn't feel loneliness, I felt complete. In the arms of the ocean, I felt completely at peace.
All that being said, my 4th of July, wasn't filled with picnics, beer, and lots of people. Instead, it was a quiet evening in which I could reflect on me, on God and country. In the quiet moments before the booms and the silence that followed after, I was able to reflect on my time here. I am slowing mastering the art of being alone, while enjoying the company of new friends and exploring this new place that I can finally begin to call home. They say, "home is where the heart is" and the ocean has captured mine. Yesterday, I embraced the ocean, and it welcomed me. Virginia Beach is my home, and I wouldn't want to be any where else.

xoxo,

Beauty at the Beach