Why I Wear a Sand Dollar Cross

I wear my silver "sand dollar cross" (pictured on my profile)  very often. There's a poem attributed to the sand dollar in which the sand dollar symbolizes the star to follow to Christ, and the points of the cross on which he was crucified. The poem is hereSand Dollar Legend Poem. I have my own interpretation of the sand dollar cross. For me, the sand dollar represents the ocean, biology, nature and science.  The cross, of course, represents the Christian faith. Both the sand dollar and cross represent two things I love: 1. the ocean, beach and nature and 2. My faith and church (specifically the Episcopal Church).  For me, the sand dollar also symbolizes science: the beginnings of man and life as organisms from the water, of water and sea life we depend on, and the uniqueness of living creatures. It awes me that all those sand dollars you see for sale in beach town stores are not just knick-knacks: they were all once living things.
The sand dollar and cross put together also says to me that faith and science belong together. They are not adversaries. I wish more could see that. Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori  is a living an example that you can be a person of faith AND science. She was an oceanographer before her ordained life. This is another reason I wear it: I am reminded of her as well when I wear my sand dollar cross.