Does the Ocean Sleep Alone?

By Jessie Miller

When all is quiet on the dark glinting pallet,

Can the Sea hear her song?

Does she know what she sounds like

When all who move her are gone?

Unaffected yet connected,

All that move her still exist.

They swirl inside her, but on the surface,

Sleep.

She moves, her sound is soft.

She catches and cradles herself again and again.

And then God asks her,

What makes you beautiful, Sea? Them or me?

When are you, You? Then or now?

What is your song? Harmony or melody?

I do not know. Dare I say, I do not know?

I love the way I sound when birds are far from me.

I love the way my surface feels,

Absent from sun’s heat. I crave the time when

Travelers choose a route other than me.

But Whale, he knows what’s underneath.

And Sand, she knows me deep.

When Boat splits through my watery soul,

I feel I have achieved.

The things that rob my quiet song

Are to whom I love to sing.

Forgive me, God.

She overflows.

He wraps the lovely Sea within

His arms she’ll always be

And alone she’ll never sleep.

To whom are we giving the power to determine our identity? How do we see ourselves, and is it through the lens of other people?  It can be INTOXICATING, to receive positive feedback from others and to fit in with what our environment determines to be acceptable. Friends, while intoxicating, this constant search for approval is exhausting, can leave us empty inside, and leave us wondering "who am I"? This is me speaking from 15-20 years of experience in people-pleasing, and just a couple of years ago I began my own self-discovery journey, of who I am and who I was created to be, despite other people's perceptions.

I recently watched the Taylor Swift Documentary (yes, I admit, I love Taylor Swift!), Miss Americana.  In this documentary, she elaborates on her life of fame and how destructive it can be. Taylor mentions, "When you're living for the approval of strangers, and that is where you derive all of your joy and fulfillment, one bad thing can cause everything to crumble."  She recounts that all she wanted since she was a child was to be viewed as good and be praised.  After her infamous incident with Kanye West at the VMA Awards in 2009, (If you don't know what I am referring to, head to YouTube!) Taylor was crushed and left to pick up the pieces. This event ignited one of the hardest years of her life, where she focused on her self-discovery, outside of the "limelight". Here, one of the most famous and wealthy people in the world is clearly stating that the approval of others is not worth the compromise of your true identity. 

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14

So. what about it? It is comforting to have friends and be liked by people. Trust me I GET IT!  But do people like and appreciate who you really are, or the image that you are portraying? We were all created in our mother's womb with a unique identity of infinite worth. Genesis 1:27 emphasizes that we are all created in the image of God. We can experience pure joy when we live into our identity, and we make the world a better place when we introduce ourselves and our talents to it. So, today, acknowledge who you are, own your true identity, and rest in this. Trust that you are never alone, that you are loved for who you are.  As Jessie Miller asks in her poem, "What makes you beautiful, Sea?  When are you, You?  What is your song?

At SCY, we welcome you for who you are and celebrate your uniqueness!  Without you, our community would be lacking a key component.  During your process of discovering, acknowledging, and owning your identity, if you want support on this journey or desire to verbally process things with a leader, please let us know!  We love you.  You are cared for.  We are here for you.