The tiny pink shell

rosprynn © 2005

 

At the beach this morning, and the sun was blazing across the dawn sky.  I looked way up to the treetops for the resident eagles – NO eagles.  And, no eagles soaring across the horizon in all their majesty.

 

But, but, the universe shifted today – for me at least!  As I walked down the still frosty sand, at the very edge of the water, marveling at all the beauty around me, I saw the most amazing thing.  Really, I have seen many wondrous sights as I quiet myself on the shores but today took the cake.

 

As my feet crunched I looked down; there, right next to my foot was the most tiny, perfect shell.  This shell was many shades of pink – and no more than half an inch in total size.  I bent down to look closer, and saw that it was laying opened. It looked so fragile lying there. However, despite its seeming fragility, as the waves lapped over it, the shell stayed where it was – strong, assured, in it’s perfect place in the universe. 

 

This tiny perfect pink shell lying on the beach was connected with all that IS.  I gently lifted it from its place on the grains of sand, and laid it in my gloved hand. The minute I did that? I knew that I had changed the universe.

 

On the surface it was no big deal – I have collected many precious items from the shores (and yes – I also have an eagle’s feather found on another beach by sashi )But as I marveled at this tiny creation in my hand, I just about fell over.   I KNOW we are all connected – have known this for a while but today, that knowing just about did me in.  By my one split second decision to pick up this tiny, glorious pink shell, I had changed the universe forever. My arrogance, my cavalier action overwhelmed me with sadness, I wanted to cry; in that one moment, I had altered the perfect harmony that has existed for millennia.  The sand was changed, the water’s path was changed, because I had clutched the shell from its rightful place. I was crushed.

 

Now came the dilemma – what to do next.  I could put the shell back, but I knew that would not reverse my action.  MY positioning of the shell on the sand could not possibly be the same perfect spot I had yanked it from.  There is no going backwards.

 

As I stood on that frosty beach, with every cell of my being, all my energy, I realized that this minute was a microcosm of ALL our lives.  I was shown, again, how we all are connected  - every thought, every word, every single action any of us is, affects the universe.  I struggled to stay on my feet.

 

My decision about the shell?  It is sitting right here on my computer desk – a constant perfect icon of what I ‘saw’ today.  And yes, the energy on my desk is changed forever by the presence of this shell.  And I am humbled, and oh so grateful for this reminder.

 

Mindboggling huh?