Most of the year I attend St. John’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. During the summer months, however, I prefer to go to St. Andrew’s-by-the-Sea right here in Rye Beach. It is a charming summer chapel, just steps from my beloved Atlantic Ocean. Often, after church, I’ll treat myself to a walk along the shore.
Today I had other commitments, though, so I opted at least to take the long way home and drive along Ocean Boulevard for a few miles before heading back inland. To my surprise, it was very slow going. The good news is that that allowed me plenty of opportunity to see what all the commotion was about.
The road was packed both northbound and southbound, and cars were parked wherever they could find space, legal or otherwise. You see, Hurricane Bill was paying a visit. Now, you’d never know it, because the skies were bright blue with white puffy clouds, and the air temperature was a comfortable 81°F, the high humidity made tolerable by the ocean breezes.
What was causing all the commotion, however, was the ocean itself. Hurricane Bill had created very large waves—the sort I’m more accustomed to seeing in photos of surfers along the California coast than the generally lower waves that are more common here on the Eastern Seaboard.
And the surfers were out on droves. It was fun watching one catch a wave while dozens of others were still paddling out, waiting for a yet more perfect ride back to shore.
I love anything having to do with the ocean, and especially when it causes me to contemplate on the larger issues of life. Herewith my Sunday afternoon musings … before I need to step away from my keyboard and tend to some chores outside, which is my own way of making the best use of the day I’ve been given.
Hurricanes are scary, and they do come as far north as New England from time to time. Fortunately, Hurricane Bill mostly knocked himself out, leaving high seas as the only indication that he was anywhere near. So instead of hunkering down to sideways rain and howling winds, the surfers among us (and New Hampshire’s beaches attract surfers year-round) took their cue and made the most of the situation.
And this is my take-home thought of the day. It’s fine to make plans—in fact, it’s essential if you ever want to get ahead in your life—but you also have to take things as they come. Go with the flow. Roll with the punches. Choose your preferred metaphor, they all mean the same thing. We need to be flexible with our plans.
As my regular readers know, I generally write in my blog maybe once a week or so. This, however, is the third entry in as many days. And that’s because I’m going with the flow. This is the third day in a row that I have observed something that I wanted to share with you. So I’m making time in my busy day (whose days aren’t busy?) to sit for a few moments at my computer and get my thoughts down on (virtual) paper.
My family is coming for a visit over Labor Day weekend. That is another very pleasant “interruption” in my plans, and I’ll need to set aside time to do some serious housecleaning, as I haven’t had houseguests in quite some time. (I remember my grandmother often saying, “Company is good for the home.”) And between now and then I have an out-of-town trip that will occupy six of those precious days.
Of course, these interruptions are all blessings in disguise. So when the seas are rough, there’s just one thing to do. Go surfing!
