the sea and the self

a short post

recently, via an English class, I have been reading Chopin's "The Awakening". (not the musical Chopin, someone else). There is this woman who is awakening, becoming aware of her interactions with the world and deciding what role she wants to play.
She takes a swim out into the sea. "to gather in an impression of space and solitude, which teh vast expanse of water, meeting and melting with the moonlit sky, conveyed to her excited fancy" "to be reaching out for the unlimited in which to lose herself" (pg 70-71)
I love this imagery of being surrounded by a great vastness and immense beauty.
However, the woman, looking back to shore, "flash of terror" "quick vision of death [smites] her soul"
So she loves swimming out there, but then she's afraid.
what if, what if. what if the sea wasn't scary? what if the sea were inside her very soul, supporting her and filling her up. what if the sea embraced her? what if the sea loved her?

exhale.
this is God and us. the sea is god, vast, boundless, deep, amazing. we are swimming. but often we become scared. why? because we don't know that God is for us.
I can imagine why some unsaved people could become depressed. There is a vastness that is very daunting! but what if that vastness designed us to swim in him!
full throat drinking of him. drown in him. it's like a pressure in your chest from the inside out. your very core is turned to water and peace.

be full of joy my friends, for you do not have to fear the sea. the sea is on your side.