In the midst of a morning tide, we walked along the western shore. We were eternal mates with dreams of a future together. Newlyweds wandering on a distant coast.
Along with our dreams, we also shared our loves and hopes as the pleasant ripple of water lapping the shore soothed our spirits. It was low tide along the Puget Sound as we meandered amongst thousands of polished stones. A most colorful tapestry of infinite number and variety.
With the distant chorus of seagulls and the rhythm of waves as our backdrop, we gathered the small stones that attracted our eye, naming each shiny gem as we strolled. Every name matched its character, and each stone had a character and style all its own. Some were delicate, others were strong. Some made us smile, while others were coarse. Some were dark, while others were bright. Most were laid aside and never seen again.
I think people are like stones along the shore. No two are the same. Sometimes they grind against each other, while others are smoothed by the endless waves that come ashore. The sandstone’s beauty was formed by pressure and time. The dark basalt volcanic stones were formed by a molten heat in the depths of the earth. In contrast, the quartzite, while formed in a similar fashion, looks more like an ethereal pearl.
The red jasper is one of our favorites. Polished, opaque, and rich throughout, it was formed by the same intense heat and pressure; but its intricate colorations were fashioned by its impurities. What finally formed the beauty of these stones was not the heat or pressure applied, but the character and chemistry within them. The distress just brought out their true beauty.
The tidal waves added the final touch as they moved in and out, each stone smoothed and polished by this action over a thousand years. Worn to the point of beautification, they are finally God’s jewels.
Some stones are useful due to their hardness; others can be used to grind and sharpen. Some, like the quartz, can be used to keep time in electronic equipment. And others, like jasper, are so beautiful that they will serve no other purpose other than to bring many smiles.
Polished by the waves, they are finally beautiful, elegant, and virtually indestructible. A character preserved for millennia. They didn’t get washed away or buried deep in the sand. Instead, they became permanent and chosen mementos, reminders of love, smoothed by time and the rolling tides.
It was a nice walk.
