Sunrise
by Ronald Bissell

When was the last time you woke up early enough to see the sunrise? What time of year was it?  For me, it was just a few days ago.  It was still dark outside as I drove my car down toward the beach. I found the chill air exhilarating and instead of feeling like I was missing sleep I felt a certain amount of excitement come upon me. I parked my car and walked down to the edge of the beach are my feet sank into the soft sand. The sky was beautiful. Stars of all colors and size were sparkling all around me. It brought back memories of my childhood when I used to routinely take this journey to the edge of the sea.

It was low tide, which is my favorite time, so I could walk out along the wet sand until I reached the cool edge of the ocean. The cool soft sand oozed between my toes as it did so many years ago. I looked out at the horizon began to see the faintest glimpse of the rising Sun. I took the time to soak in all the sounds and smells that surrounded me. I could hear seagulls in the distance and could hear the water lap against the shore. It was one of those magical moments and I was glad I recognized it as such.

The light in the distance began to become brighter and I can see the very edge of the sun rising above the horizon. It cast its glow in a line just in front of me and the sparkle from the ocean dazzled my eyes. I kept watching and waiting absorbing each moment into my memory bank of days. I became lost in memories of years ago as their glow begin to match the light I saw before me.

It was a moment that reinforced the memory of my senses. I felt warm and complete. 

A seagull approached from a distance and stopped as he saw me standing 20 feet away. He cocked his head in a questioning posture as he computed whether it was safe to remain or move away from this stranger. He was motionless as was I. We were like two combatants about to engage in battle. Of course, both were as fearful as the other so there was no contest about winners or losers. There was just two beings in wonderment. 

My attention was changed as I heard a noise in the water. All I could see in the limited light was a splash-point and a rippling circle around it. I forced my eyes to see around the area of the splash but knew any sea creature would not remain in the same spot. Ah, I said to myself as I saw the head of a seal appear about 20 yards from where I began my scanning of the ocean. He ducked over and over again as he deliberately moved away from me toward some debris floating at the edge of my vision. As quickly as he came I watched him disappear into a blackened liquid world in which he was completely at home. 

As dawn continued to lighten the scene before me I began to see other people walking dogs or contemplating deeply in their own created space. No one spoke except for a nod or wave but each knew this special time and special place. I could feel the energy around me begin to build as others joined me in their morning walk. I felt rewarded for my short time alone by the shore because the memories I retrieved gave me the awareness of oneness and the fearful feelings I came with in the darkness of morning began to fade quickly into the rising sun. 

The sky began to blue and the ocean began to rise as the endless journey from low to high tide began its eternal cycle. I could feel that endless surge of energy contained in each crashing wave. I sat mesmerized, immersed in the moment, with a mind that was re-charged by the power before me. The sun was fully above the horizon and the day began its journey toward night. I could face my day with a knowing deep inside of the connectedness of my soul to the inner sea coursing through my veins. 

The next time you sit by the ocean or feel a cool ocean breeze, take a deep breath, then another. Stop and remember the contents in each breath you took contained the essence of eternity and a subtle link in our world to the Creator Himself.