H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

“Stroll on the Beach”

I was walking on the beach at near time for the sunset one day, the beach was apparently deserted, I just needed to take a stroll and do some meditation, I have to sort things out in my mind about a serious problem I have to come to a decision. It’s not that I lost faith but for certain situations it would take a miracle to resolve it.

I chose to stroll on the beach at this time because of the solitude will help me see things more clearly. I took my shoes off and  began to stroll on the beach, I let the surf ebbs wet my feet and let your mind go to work the way to get a solution to what is weighing on me. I walked approximately half a mile deep into thought when suddenly, I saw a person, he was a man in his fifties, wearing kaki shorts, a white t-shirt and a cream color straw-brimmed hat sitting on the dry sand quietly looking at the sun setting in the horizon.

I said – Good evening! I smiled and he bowed his head gently acknowledging my greetings. I had slowed my walking but when I resumed walking at about the fourth step, I heard the man said something,

– Have you ever noticed how vast the ocean is? I turned around and walked closer to him. – Yes! I said with certainty and I added – On many occasions I have thought of the the enormous amount of water that we have in the world and the number of creatures that live in it!

He continued by asking another question – Since you have admired the vastness of the ocean you must have seen the sun  too…obviously – Yes I have, many times I have asked myself that the sun have provided us with daylight and warmth, not only has done that for eons but has influenced the well-being of life in the planet.

– Have a look at the sky right now! He pointed his hand toward the ocean and I turned around to face the horizon and saw the sun half way down the straight line traced by the ocean level, the sky was like a giant palette of hues and bright colors, a magnificent natural spectacle. – It’s so beautiful, I always enjoy the view of the sunset! I was genuinely honest when I said it.

–So you have been aware of all the marvelous things that occur in the world in a daily basis. He continued saying  – Also, we should not forget the birth of any living creature too! He sounded pleased of the summary made on account of my awareness. I had to agree with his conclusion. – Yes, you’re absolutely right Sir! I said with my pride high and firm satisfaction.

–Then why you can not believe that those things that you’ve mentioned are miracles if you’ve been seeing them all your life? I froze for a minute, my mind raced through all the words said during our conversation and I realized right then and there that I’ve been living  practically blind about reality and the meaning of what we take for granted. I looked at the sun almost to the end of its hiding under the horizon and the sun rays projected brighter light into my eyes. I turned around saying – Who are you and how did you know about any miracles… The man in kaki shorts and hat wasn’t there any more! I looked all around and he wasn’t anywhere in sight! I looked down and I saw my foot-prints in the sand but no prints or disturbed sand where he was sitting.

I turned back the way I came and I knew what I had to do with my problem!

Short Story © HJ Ruiz