When I was small I used to love going to the beach. And once in two months, my parents would take me to the Marina Beach in Chennai. It was a family ritual. I loved eating the thenga-manga-pattani-sundal, pink cotton candy, and a milky white ice-cream-on-a-stick called Pal-ice (milk ice-cream). Yes, I would eat all these one after the other and in that order ONLY!
And then for the next hour or so I would spend some happy time playing in the water, building sand-castles so on and so forth. I enjoyed the sea. I loved it.
Every time I looked at it, I would always wonder what was on the other side and I would want to go there....I was never afraid of the sea....it was my friend.
Then things began to change. I was growing older and learning new things -assimilation of information! Now when I looked at the massive amounts of water there was a tinge of fear in me. I was old enough to understand that I didn't know how to swim and that could be dangerous if I ever drown in the sea. I think the last time I went to the beach was when I was around 16. I clearly remember standing on the sea shore and looking at this world of water and feeling extremely small and helpless and fearful.
It is so strange, as a child I was instinctively much more in harmony with nature, attuned to its vibrations and unquestioningly accepted its love and protection. But as I grew up and became more knowledgeable about things I became more fearful...Irony of life :)
After that I don't remember enjoying the sea much. I became more of a river person. Though the river can be deceptively calm and treacherous under the surface, I felt more comfortable with the surface-calmness of a river than the visible turbulent waves of the sea.
It took me three decades to set my relationship with the sea in order.
Today, when I stand on the seashore and look at the beautiful sea, I can feel its power. I can sense how small I am when compared to its Goliath-and-David-combined-power, size and strength. In a jiffy it can engulf me if it wants to. But then it won't. Man is as safe as he can ever be in the lap of nature.
That is the beauty of nature - it knows how to live harmoniously with man. It knows its power and it knows to use it responsibly. It only goes berserk when we as humans go out of control.
Today, when I look at the sea, I am still small and the sea is still big, but today I feel like we are partners in the greater scheme of things. That will always be the relationship between man and nature.
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