Its deeps hold all secrets and its shores are a haven to many. The ocean and its companion, the beach, are the one place to which I can continuously return. It is a place of introspection and of magic. One can almost believe that fantasy will become reality.

It is best to simply gaze upon the ocean's shadowed depths. The light is reflected upon it and scattered like millions lustrous crystals upon the dark waves. The smell of the salt-tinged air, the sound of the gulls crying, and the constantly changing colors of the water can never completely be caught on the artist's canvas.

The beach is also the best source of creativity available to me. The wind whipping across its vast expanse whispers of lives I shall never encounter and unanswered questions. It speaks of stories lost to time. The wind prompts me to write these stories down so they are not forever forgotten.

The sea embodies so many characteristics. It's as gentle and erotic as a lover's touch, yet more terrifying than legions of soldiers in the mists of battle. The sea has pilfered so many lives as well as entwined destinies. Above all else, the sea reminds us of the awesome power of nature and that she is a master of intrigue.

The power of the sea presents itself shamelessly. It's easy to recall this when I watch the waves crash relentlessly against a seaside cliff, like a dragon rearing its head and striking again and again in a vain attempt to make the massive cliffs crash down to its open embrace. Time shall inevitably conquer the cliffs, but for that moment they withstand the brutal beatings of the sea.

I love to go there alone or perhaps with just one friend. The colors in a sunset array the waves in infinite hues. It's easier to discuss things of substance with the slow drawl of the ocean lulling us into blissful tranquility.

In the dark, watching the ocean from some restaurant's covered patio, the night seems endless, the only light provided by the dim illumination of the stars. The white caps appear like ghosts from the shadows and mysteriously disappear. The tide is high, that specters surface a few feet from you. During such times, the beach is transformed into an eerie story of the beyond. It reminds me of my childhood, when my callow mind molded chilling shapes from the darkness.

Lastly, the sea reminds me of my Creator above. The frightening power of the sea serves as a reminder of the colossal power of my Father up in heaven. When one sits on the sand, the light cascading through a hole in the clouds to the water below, it's not hard to imagine that heaven exists.

The sea has become my mentor. It teaches me to show respect for everyone and everything. It impresses upon me the value of seeking solitude when life becomes too cumbersome and too jumbled to untangle in the ensuring chaos. It reminds me the value of good conversation and pleasant companions. For many sailors, the ocean became their mistress. The sea has become my lover as well.

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