This saying, my own I think, is part of the way to profoundly appreciate others, liberate ourselves from our narrow perspectives, reconcile, become healthy and whole, rediscover the joy and pain of life, share the bounteousness of our Earth, convey Wondrous News, find God, … 

Before the Gulf oil disaster, I thought of this mostly in terms of human community, but I’m beginning to see with new eyes the Giftedness or Grace or Genius in everything. My family just spent a few days in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore located in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We camped there on beautiful Okracoke Island. This National Seashore shares much in common with the white beaches and barrier islands of the northern Gulf Coast. For example, the beaches sport six line race runners and are part of a larger eco-system of dunes, wooded areas, and coastal marshes.

A six line race runner skirts across a walk way on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.   Our incredible campsite at the Okracoke campground, photographed May 31, 2011.

The plants and trees of the wooded areas near Okracoke's beaches were diverse and beautiful, photographed May 31, 2011.   A marsh on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.

But at the Outer Banks, when one looks out into the ocean, there’s an immediate obvious difference too – North Carolina has no offshore drilling. Additionally, there’s many more shell pieces near the shore that sustainably support the beach against erosion. Not just shell parts either, an abundance of living shell life that is incredible. I remember from my childhood the numerous the coquinas on Dauphin Island and Gulf Shores. On the National Seashore there still there a great numbers all along the shoreline. The sand fleas too are unbelievably plentiful – just sit down, let your hands slip into the sand, and pull them up – as numerous as fleas on a country dog in summer.

Where have all the oil rigs gone? Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.   Hundreds of coquinas burrowing back under the sand on Okracoke Island, photographed May 31, 2011.

Innumerable shell help protect Okracoke Island from erosion, photographed May 31, 2011.   The sand fleas could be gathered easily just sitting in the surf, photographed May 31, 2011.

Today we, who live on the Gulf Coast, can seek out the Genius that has kept these North Carolina beaches so clean, vibrant, and beautiful. Unfortunately these beaches on the Outer Banks are threatened too by the expansion of offshore drilling that is being pushed by corporations and politicians. Fortunately, these beaches still bring exhilarating joy, and no one knows what’s the tide will bring in on a new day. The Okracoke Monster might even be found slithering through the sand at dusk.

The beauty of the Outer Banks beaches may soon be threatened by oil drilling and like all oceans is threatened by plastics and other pollution, photographed May 31, 2011.

This 20-foot long Okracoke monster was photographed on May 31, 2011 just after sundown

Hands Across the Sand Event 

Everyone is invited to Hands Across the Sand on Saturday, June 25, 2011 on Dauphin Island at the beach near Fort Gaines. We’ll gather around 11:00 AM and join hands at 12:00 noon to show our support for clean energy. There will also be Hands Across the Sand events in Gulf Shores, Biloxi, Pensacola, and many other locations

The beach at Fort Gaines is located on the eastside of Dauphin Island on Bienville Boulevard. After crossing the bridge, turn left (East) at the water tower onto Bienville Boulevard. Then drive past Fort Gaines to the end of Bienville Boulevard where it curves to the right. Parking is available there. We will have a blue tent on the beach at the end of the parking area. See Google map for aerial view.