Sea (n)  Body of water partially landlocked or has a water quantity less than an ocean.

See (v)  Perceive with the eyes; discern

I am excited about today’s Word Well Wednesday words, sea and see!  The more I thought about them, delved into their meanings and started researching, all sorts of ideas popped into my head.

Seas most often occur where an ocean meets land as in the Arabian Sea, Bering Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Japan, Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, etc.  There are more than 50 seas on the earth according to National Geographic.  A sea is typically smaller than an ocean and tends to be less salty.  Surprisingly, the Sea of Galilee is actually fresh water.

Ocean sounds massive; sea sounds charming or exotic.  There are places I longed to visit and the list includes three seas – the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Bering – three very contrasting bodies of water.  I have yet to venture to them and now in my silver years they don’t hold the same intrigue.  However, I am drawn to water.  Rivers, lakes, oceans and seas, provide a mesmerizing calm.  The colors, the movement of currents and the never-ending replenishing nature is awe inspiring.

The other see applies to what our eyes do – another miraculous feat!  Discerning shapes, colors and details of the world around us is truly extraordinary!  The complexity of our eyes allows us to experience a dimension of wonder which we easily take for granted.  As a contact lens wearer, I go through that moment of loss each time I remove them before I reach for my glasses.  The world around me suddenly becomes mush – undefined shapes shrouded in fog.  Gone is the clarity and with it, gone is the comfort in knowing what is in front of me.  I grew up with a grandmother who was sight-impaired.  Her personality reflected the loss through fear, mistrust and anger.  Take away your ability to see, even for a few moments, and it’s easy to understand the desperation that could arise.

What miracles we have all around us!  The beauty found in varying landscapes and the ability to enjoy those by perceiving the wonder through the complexity of sight.  It’s easy to become seeped in the normality of it all. Today, I will work on being grateful for the seas and what I see.