The ocean has many different faces, which I’ve encountered close-up while living on the island of St. Croix. It is a playground for our water sports like swimming, paddle boarding, surfing, water skiing, and boating. It is a home for many species of birds and animals. The ocean can transport us from one place to another on small boats and gigantic ships, and it provides food and water for all forms of life, including humans.

The ocean that we love to be near for playing together, marrying one another, or sitting and letting our souls rest can reflect the beauty of a setting sun at the end of the day and the luminescent moon glowing from the sky. And it can be the source of destruction when it overflows, flooding the land.

After Hurricane Maria, the devastation brought volunteers together. Friends from the UU Fellowship of St. Croix and the community cleared debris from the yards of elderly and disabled neighbors. Many spent hours clearing the beaches.

The ocean’s power is too big for any one of us alone.