Recently I received a gift from a little boy, Owen, I had in my Young Authors’ Workshop this summer. It’s a book called “The Seaglass Hunter’s Handbook”. Owen and I shared a love of beach glass. We both are collector’s and he even taped two pieces of his collection to the inside cover.
Inside the book, one chapter gives definitions of terms tossed about by beach glass enthusiasts. The last word in the lexicon was “zen”. I didn’t expect to find that word there among stippling, stoneware, and transferware. Before I read the definition, I’d already assumed in my mind that it would mean the tranquility gained from the beautiful shades of the glass. Instead it said:
“Zen: Philosophy for collectors. If you look for it, you will not find it.”
I’m learning a new lesson from my passion for beach glass. It was so simply stated not only in this book, but in “Gifts From the Sea” by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a tiny book I picked up for $5 in the Books by Sea bookstore the day I met Gloria in Osterville. I had set both books by my chair and just happened to pick them both up to read today, ironically gleaning the same message from both authors. Lindbergh writes:
“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith.
Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. “
I have spent a life digging. Digging people, things, careers, and even God. I wanted, I wanted, I wanted. Patience was always hard. Trusting anything solely to God was always hard. Doing “nothing” in situations where I knew nothing was the right thing to do, was nearly impossible for me. MY head and hands always knew the best way. Until now. Now…in the early afternoon of my life, as a result of this journey, the digging is done. Again, so simply stated by Lindbergh, “One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea.”
And more of her words express the direction I am turning toward now:
“I want first of all….to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out ….obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact – to borrow from the language of the saints – to live “in grace” as much of the time as possible. By grace I mean inner harmony, essentially spiritual, which can be translated into outward harmony.”
Amazing how my love for finding beach glass, a little boy I shared a special time with, and a few books came together to set my GPS in a new direction. The time for digging, trying to find, trying to achieve, and wanting are done. Time to rest and let treasures and blessings cross my path as God wills. I will always have Owen’s gift to consult on all things related to the hunting of beach glass. Today I will grab a light windbreaker, my sunglasses, and head out seeking without expectation. Without digging and foraging.
And so, as another day goes by, peace, tranquility, and new directions arrive in the innocence of a child’s hand, and….I have written.
Leave a Reply