Waves

I was at the beach today and noticed a very odd, but well-known phenomenon.

As the waves crashed onto the shore, some of them didn’t travel very far onto the shores of the beach, but some travelled quite a ways.

We know why this is and there are a few reasons for this, but one of the most important ones has to do with interference patterns of waves, something many of us may have learned in high school physics. As a wave comes onto the shore, it hits land, slows, stops and then travels back towards the water, it’s origin. The next wave that comes onto the shore is then attenuated, because it also encounters the resistance of the first wave traveling backwards. This means that the second wave doesn’t travel as far as the first one. However, there is also a third wave. This one meets less resistance than the one prior and travels farther than its predecessor.

Sometimes, it’s a matter of timing, luck and circumstance. Sometimes, we are that first wave, the one that meets no resistance outside of natural limitations, in these cases we can really make a large impact, if we put all of our work and effort into what we do.

In some cases, we are that second wave. No matter how hard we work, there will be things that work against us, and we may not progress to the extent we work.

In other cases, we can be that third wave. We have been fortunate to be traveling on a path that has already been trodden. Many of the challenging obstacles have been removed from our path, and we can really make great progress.

So it is with most matters in our lives. At times, we can spiritually grow unencumbered, to grow into new fields, at others, our purpose is to clear a path for others, those who will come behind us, and sometimes, our purpose is to stretch the limits and boundaries.

The important thing is to try our best in all situations and to not be disheartened when things do not go our way. Nature gives us parables for all that happens in our lives. The lesson here is to do your utmost, either you will reap the benefits, or the children of our world will.