Growing Pains

It is the pacific ocean. Late morning. A sunny day.
You are in the water. Happy, joyous, comfortable.
The ocean is deep, vast, infinite. The water is chilling cold. But you like it, you have gotten used to it. It's familiar to you, it is known.
A wave comes upon you. It's explosive, giant and unapologetic as it rushes on to you. The sound of the wave haunts you. As if it says COME WITH ME. You don't know this wave. You've never encountered it before. It is new, unfamiliar, frightening. 
What do you do?
You swim. Swim somewhere, anywhere - just AWAY from the wave.
Then, you choke a bit, or lose your breath, or cough up. You get scared shitless. Scream for help. Moan.
In this moment, you think you may die. "This is it."  You think. The moment of your death.
But before you start having any opinion or feeling on that, the wave takes over.
You let it carry you forward. As if you had a choice. You don't. But you'd like to think you do. After all, you are a human being. You've conquered nature time and time again, no?
Well, No, Actually. NO.
You are humbled by the wave. It has a lot to teach you, this wave. So you find yourself no longer holding on to gravity. Your poor attempt at swimming is over. You have nothing left up your sleeve. The wave's rush is stronger than your muscles. It's louder than your screams for help. It defies gravity. And then, seamlessly, you two are one. Your breath is the wave's sound, your body floats in its pull, your mind has quieted down, as if you finally say YES to the wave. You understand this wave. You get to know this wave. You care for it as you would care for yourself.
And then? The wave pulls you out, to breathe, to see the sky, to see a bird or two, to see - it has taken you to shore. 
You exhale, and look back as the wave has disappeared. Quickly as it arrived.
Thank you. You silently tell the wave. From your heart. Thank you. 
You turn to face the ground, the earth, the sand, with a newfound determination. One of a fortunate soul, one who is humbled, who let go. One who will no longer resist the wave of change. One who welcomes it, with humility, and love.

​You are America. And you are growing up.