Some of life’s simple beauties lie right at our feet. I wonder if we take notice or simply walk on by. There is beauty in almost everything if we take the time to discover it. I had the opportunity to learn this first-hand.

Recently while strolling along Beverly Beach in Oregon, I was drawn to a view I had never before seen. It had been a stormy January week prior to my arrival. The night before the wind demonstrated its power by pelting sand at anyone or anything within reach. Yet, like most things in life, after the storm, beauty shows up. The day had unfolded into an unusually warm sunny day for January and I discarded my jacket. Sunshine in January for Oregon is always a beautiful thing. But I wish to draw your attention to different beauty, one that was created by nature, literally beneath my feet.

Along the rock-strewn beach, patterns of diverse forms emerged. Some were displayed by the various particles of sand mixing their colours with the ocean water. Others appeared around the very rocks I normally avoid stepping on. Now let it be noted, I have gone to the beach a good many times. When I go, I love watching the ever-changing waves and hearing the force with which they crash upon the shore. Habitually, I look ahead in the direction I am traveling; however, this trip was different. My eyes were averted to the assortment of rocks on the beach. I stopped to stoop low for a closer examination and was astonished! I quickly fell to a knee to capture a photo so that I might share my discovery. Suddenly, I slipped into a serendipity mood. Without any planning on my part, I was captivated and a new quest began.

I felt a child-like wonder set in. My investigation into this unique art form compelled me from rock to rock. Each one intrigued me with its own patterns of refinement. It was as though an artist had made brushstrokes in the sand. I carried on spellbound by the simple beauty that quietly washed up before my eyes. I was in awe of the gift the beach presented to me. I dubbed it “rock landscapes.”

Reluctantly, I left the beach and ended my quest, feeling a sense of renewal and invigoration. I was inspired by yet another beauty of nature. A new lesson formulated in my mind as I pondered the events of the day. I must remember to never lose my child-like wonderment that leads to undiscovered simple beauty!