Swimming With Dolphins

Last Spring Break, Bible Study Cousin and I took Sweet Baby on her first cruise.  It was an adventure.  Sweet Baby was ready to take Mexico and the open waters by storm.  By day two, I was ready for a vacation from the vacation.  Annnnnyways, on to the point of this story.  We decided that it would be a great idea to go swim with dolphins.  I had swam with dolphins many years before, and it was a great experience.

Sweet Baby was ecstatic.  She screamed and squealed when she saw the dolphins cresting the surface of their enclosures.  How exciting!  We listened to the instructor tell us how we were to handle the dolphins.  No grabbing.  We were to just keep our hands open to pat them as they swam by.  As I was listening to the instructor, I looked at Sweet Baby.  She was in the zone, and I wasn’t entirely certain that she was paying attention.

So, we had a side bar discussion.  I reiterated what the instructor had said.  Then, I asked her to repeat what she just heard.  I wasn’t entirely satisfied with her ability to follow through, so I asked her to demonstrate the appropriate way to handle these cute but powerful creatures.  She rubbed my arm appropriately, so I let the issue rest.

Apparently, another tourist was observing our conversation.  She asked if I was a teacher.  My reply was “something like that.”  The fact of the matter is that I knew the tendencies of my “student,” and I wanted her to be prepared to handle this exciting experience the correct way.

Recalling that experience made me wonder if that’s what God is doing in me and for me right now.  He’s given me His Word to read and follow, but I’m not always doing that.  I don’t pay attention.  So, He pulls me to the side to further reiterate how important it is that I lean and depend on Him.  Then He gives me the opportunity to show Him that I know what He was talking about.

Well, we got in the water, and Sweet Baby got scared.  She was excited about the experience until she stepped into the water.  She’s so short that the water was a little too deep for her.  She didn’t want to step out to the edge where she would be able to pet the dolphin.  Even though she had a life vest on, she knew she couldn’t swim.  All that talking went out the window when the water got deep.

So, I carried her.  She was thrilled when the dolphin swam by.  She was so glad that she got to experience the thing that she had been preparing for.  And I was excited that she was able to have an amazing experience.

Although I know I love God, it gets scary for me when the water is deep like it is now.  I read His Word.  I can repeat it back to Him.  And now I have to live it out.  If I love Sweet Baby enough to carry her when the waters are too deep, I’m certain that God loves me enough to take me through the deep waters.  He’ll put me up close to thrilling adventures.  He’ll allow me to feel the joy of trusting Him.  I’m sure He’ll do the same for you.  #wepreach