The stillness surprises me. There are familiar rhythms found in the ebb of the tide. Waves can ease upon the shore with a soft whoosh that kisses one’s ear. Other times they are loud and forceful like an angry tyrant, slamming into the sand demanding to be noticed. Today is different. The ocean resembles a piece of slate glass, serene and calm, except for an ever so soft splash as the wave laps upon the sand.
The sun crawls into the horizon, shooting rays of pink and coral that illuminate the sky and bounce off the water. A strange thing begins to happen as the sky fills with the presence of the sun. The waves become stronger, beating to a new rhythm, as if acknowledging the arrival of the sun. I smile, because the circumstances of one’s life are like the tide. They are sometimes easy to manage and enjoyable. Other times they are difficult and bear upon one heavily. How does one cope with the changes in life that often take us by surprise? The question haunts us simply because the answer seems elusive.
The sun’s light casts away the darkness of night, and the waves seem to respond with a predictable beat. In order to tame the waves of life, we must connect with our inner sunlight, our own inner strength. Just as the different colors of the sun paint the gulf, our inner strengths color our life experiences. Do you know your inner strengths? If not, we can help you. Highlighting the positive attributes of a client is the anchor of the counselor’s creed.
Dawn breaks, and another day begins. I begin to think of my own strengths and how I would like to use them to shed rays of light into the dark places of my life and the lives of others. Fresh as the new morning and renewed in hope, I smile once again.
