The Dichotomy of Water

I have realized that several of my recent posts have involved water. Funny, I just realized it as I sit here to type a post for Jillsy's June Challenge. It is truly an amazing thing, water. It is all at once, beautiful, peaceful, a building block of life, and one of the most destructive things that I have ever seen. I experienced the destructive side three years ago when our house was flooded, the power of water filled me at that time with despair, yet in retrospect with awe and a new found appreciation. We have all seen what has happened around the world from tsunami's in far away places to the current river floods here closer to home.

Then, flip the circumstance, floating in a calm pool at dusk brings tranquility. The vastness of the ocean and peaceful crush of the breakwater waves.  This mingled with sounds of laughter and children's squeals as they rush in and out of the water equally chasing the waves and running from them.   I guess the ocean may be a good example of water's dichotomy, equally beautiful and at the same time dangerous. She coaxes you in, yet if you are not careful, her undertow will show you who is ultimately in control.  Watching the pure exhilaration reflected in the kids faces is infectious and a model for approaching life with the same pure joy and alert exuberance.