Sea Glass: The Ultimate Survivor
Once, from a source, each piece of sea glass belonged to a bigger whole. Each one has a mystery history but brokenness is central to every story. It matters little if the original glass was once a fancy pink pitcher pouring lemonade at the table of a beach side cottage. The glass may have been stolen by a violent storm rising and waters pouring herself into homes reckless and taking prisoners back with the tide. Some bottles may have been cracked in anger, in fits or fights between lovers of soldiers, and flown into the air as witnesses unable to report crimes. Others were Coke bottles left behind by a distracted child after a lengthy family picnic on a warm and beauriful day. Perhaps children played in tidal pools and make drip castles as parents left imprints of their feet in the sand not concerned with the tide which would wash over and erase them.
The history of sea glass can be guessed at but each piece is a discarded refugee ripped from what was once home. Each piece is forced to travel alone and does not get to say, “Break me here. I want to occupy this shape and size.” No sea glass can envision the shape or texture it will become. If it could, it would know the original shape to be temporary and we aren’t made to know the future.
Those shattered pieces at first are sharp and fragile, dangerous to bare feet and unused to the cold new home of icy water. They must survive currents taking them into choppy waters, to depths and distances unknown. Others are left on shore baking in the sun because the water can’t retrieve them. They are dumped on shore as if shipwrecked passengers waiting for rescue and dying of thirst.
But none are left alone as mystical magic transforms. Mother Nature files rough edges and Father Time makes the glass grow a new thick “skin” with a protective hardiness and frost. Each broken shard returns to a new wholeness. These holy gems are my symbol of transformation. Even the pieces discarded or thrown away as litter or trash will become a touchstone. Pieces, once disowned by accident or intention, become valuable again. In new shape and size, unrecognizable, they become sought after, appreciated and treasured.
Each piece is an old soul newborn. Sea glass is the ultimate survivor.
This is beautiful. I’m giving sea glass in small crystal, lidded bowls to a group of women tonight. Our Soldiers are all deployed. I’m going to print this out WITH the blog post address (not stealing, just sharing) if that’s okay. What you have written is very special.
I AM SO TOUCHED that my writing moved you enough to want to share it with others. I’m thrilled and appreciative that you are sharing with me. And what a beautiful gift to give to other women – really. Can I post your comment as a blog post (with your name if you’d like)? I’d love to know how others responded if you feel like sharing – to YOUR gift. I hope you all are a great support to each other while your soldiers are deployed. And if you have a blog or a place you write about your journey I’d love to add that link as well.
Thank you so much for writing!!!
Sea Glass Girl
I’m sharing it, again. My son found an old one I had, gave it to me this morning. I have a friend who’s moving today, am going to pass it along to her, too.