Shell hunting is one of my favorite past-times on this earth. On our last beach vacation, I was hunting for shells each day, and I found myself contemplating why I enjoy it so much. As I was searching, I came to some general conclusions and each of them brought me back to a common theme. I discovered that what I love about shell hunting, I also love about life in general. I have come to realize that so much of the beautiful presence I find in shelling symbolizes truths I know about life as a whole.

We are all on a hunt. One morning, I was doing my morning beachcombing before sunrise, and I noticed a father and son preparing to go fishing. I had the thought, “We are all hunting for something. I’m looking for shells, they are looking for fish.” We are all full of hope, looking for what life/God/the universe will offer up to us.

Go specific and general. As I continued to observe the father and son, I realized we had something else in common, and another universal truth came to mind. We were looking for very specific things, but also looking at the whole and open to what would come to us in general. As I walked the shore that morning, I was looking for sand dollars because I had found one the day before. But I was also looking in general for things that caught my eye. The father and son where hopeful for a specific type of fish, but also open in general to what they might find. We live for those moments of awe where we find exactly what we are looking for.

The large scale and the fine scale. I heard a quote this morning on Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast that sums this idea up beautifully. It comes from Dacher Keltner who studies awe at UC Berkeley. He says, “if we allow ourselves to move from the fine scale to the large scale and back again, it’s the space between the two where we experience awe.” I think of the specificity involved in hunting for particular shells. And then I consider the vastness of staring out at the horizon looking out at the ocean, and realizing how very small we are in the grand scheme of things. Going general keeps me open to whatever special treasure may make an appearance on the walk in front of me or wash onto the shore. It’s going between these processes of the fine scale and large scale that joy and awe are found.

Shells are like snowflakes. Like snowflakes, all shells are different. I may find a dozen white shells, but I was drawn to each one for a different reason. I looked at the shells in my hand and meditated on this idea. One had a pretty tinge of pink on one side, and one had perfect ridges with tan speckles all over. One was perfectly smooth all over and intact, while those around it all had slight imperfections. The imperfect shells were no less beautiful the seemingly perfect one. The chips on one had a blue coloration that it would not have had if the chips weren’t there. I thought about how each one that I held there in my hand had value to me, each for very different reasons. I couldn’t imagine tossing any of them back into the sand.

We are led to what is meant for us. Just as I am drawn to certain shells on the beach, I believe that we are led to what is meant for us. As I walk along the beach, I imagine that the God life in me is feeling as much joy as I am as I see that one beautiful shell that stands out to me among the thousands of others. He is leading me to the treasure that is meant for me and the things in life that I am meant to have. I became so much happier when I realized that I am not after the lives I see other people living. I am only after the unique life God wants for me to have and to do my best to walk in my purpose and what he has for me.

Infinitely many options. The beach is full of shells to choose from, just as we are offered choices on any given moment every day of our lives. We have infinitely many options, and there are many that are right for us. Not right or wrong, but options. We only need to choose the best we can from what we are offered. There is beauty in what we choose, but our intentions matter greatly.

Intentions matter. This may sound silly, but as I stroll down the beach I pray that I will find what shells I am meant to find. I pray that I will find things that surprise and delight me. On this past trip, I prayed to find sand dollars. And I found two! As I go through life, I pray with the same intentionality. I pray that I will find what is meant for me each day. We get what we look for at the beach, or in life in general. That’s worth saying again: we get what we look for. When we look for the good, we find more good.

Rinse and repeat. Finding shells is a bit of luck, a bit of intentionality, and a bit of planning. Once I find an area rich with shells, and especially an area with the type I am looking for (in this case, sand dollars) I will come back to that specific area every day of my trip. Rinse and repeat. I look for landmarks along the way so I know how far to walk out the next day. I also notice if this shifts as the tide shifts. I notice that there are many more shells after storms. The life you want requires the same combination of luck, intentionality and planning. We notice what works and what doesn’t, and we monitor and adjust as things change. There is good to be found after the storms.

I typically write for a specific purpose and audience, but this was just something I wanted to jot down for myself. If others enjoy it, that is just icing on the cake.