Beach

 

I love the beach, even though, or maybe because, I didn’t grow up anywhere near a beach. Recently, we bought a static caravan on a park, right by the sea, and I love it. When the tide is in, you can hear the waves booming as they hit the rocks. The sky looks different and the air smells healthy.

Every day when staying at the caravan, Goldie and I go onto the beach. It’s not a golden sandy beach, and it looks rather ugly when the tide is out. Dark rocks are spread out, some covered in green seaweed. The rocks aren’t neatly lined up either, but there are sandy patches, jagged rocks, pebble mounts and rock pools. It’s a mess.

Goldie loves to run around though and explore the different stones for crab and other things she could try to eat. Standing as patiently as I can, I usually end up looking at the stones at my feet, and you know what? This stretch of coast has the most amazing collection of rocks and pebbles anywhere in the world, I’m sure! The colours are stunning, and the patterns keep you moving from one stone to another, with Goldie trying to help once she realises you’re hunting for something as well.

When suddenly the sun peeps down, everything is different. The salty air and fresh breeze, stunning beauty all around and one happy puppy are enough to make the beach look amazing, even attractive. Nothing has changed, apart from the light. The rocks are still brown and uneven, the sand is still dark and coarse and there is still seaweed everywhere.

The Sun makes all the difference

I know in writing we often talk about perspective and all that, but sometimes, all we need is the Light of lights to look closer at life. Maybe we can see something that’s unappealing, but just keep looking, you never know the beautiful pebble you might suddenly spot. There was also a dead eel, but you know what? Even a young Labrador (who is always on the brink of starvation) can be made to move on from that, and you turn your back on it looking up at the Light, and see another beautiful rock, with exquisite lines and patterns.

It’s nearly NaNoWriMo, and although this year my project is a little messy as I want to complete one book and start another during November, I’m excited as well. There will be jagged, messy days, covered by stuff so ideas might not be visible. Thoughts might seem dull and dark, but once you look closer, there will be some little pebbles, unexpectedly pretty and worth keeping. And the rule we have for my kids when it comes to pebbles and shells doesn’t count for ideas either. You’re definitely allowed to take more than three of them home per day. May the Light shine in you and through you, and illuminate your thoughts, words and paragraphs!

Maressa Mortimer is Dutch but lives in the beautiful Cotswolds, England with her husband and four (adopted) children. Maressa is a homeschool mum as well as a pastor’s wife, so her writing has to be done in the evening when peace and quiet descend on the house once more. She loves writing Christian fiction, as it’s a great way to explore faith in daily life. Because of her interest in writing, Maressa is part of Creativity Matters: Find Your Passion For Writing, an anthology encouraging people to write.

Her debut novel, Sapphire Beach, was published in December 2019, and her first self published novel, Walled City, came out in December 2020, followed by Viking Ferry, a novella. Beyond the Hills is the second book in the Elabi Chronicles, and was released in 2021, followed by stand-alone novel Burrowed, released in 2022. All of Maressa’s books are available from her website, www.vicarioushome.com, Amazon or local bookshops.