Forces of Nature

I wish I'd taken this picture, but I can't claim credit. However, this is very similar to what we saw over the ocean tonight. As we sat out on the balcony tonight, we watched the sky light up in strobe-like flashes, and occasionally saw lightning bolts stretch across the sky or down to the ocean. There were several times when I said, "WHOA! Did you see that?!" It was beautiful.

One thing that always strikes me when we're down here in Florida is the sheer power of Nature (and yes...capital N). I see it at home, too, don't get me wrong. Tornadoes are incredibly nasty (knock on wood, we haven't had one hit us) and summer thunderstorms can wreak their own havoc. But sometimes it's the little things that remind me of just how puny we are.

Seeing something as simple as the waves coming constantly to shore tells me that nature abides. Standing in the surf and being buffeted by the waves, while simultaneously feeling the current suck the sand out from beneath my feet, tells me that I'm one giant wave away from being swept out to sea.

The sun is a constant presence, and every single one of us, young, old, or in-between, can be forced into sleepless nights when dealing with a nasty sunburn.

No matter what kind of power some people think they have, our week here every year reminds me of how pathetic we are in the face of the awesome force of Nature. I love it. It's a humbling experience, and maybe that's one of the reasons I love coming down here every year, because it's such a great reminder of just how insignificant we are.