Whale Watching 2-26-10

As the boat took off there was so much excitement in my heart; I LOVE the ocean and I love boats. I've been on the ocean plenty of times and as we kept jumping over the waves memories of my childhood flashed before my eyes; memories of sitting in the bow of the boat, wind blowing in our hair, running carefully not to fall while the boat was going so fast...memories of Grandma and Grandpa Coumbe...those were good times, happy times.

The boat ride went on for about an hour. When we reached our destination the boat slowed. We saw about 15 other boats with passengers wearing the same bright orange life vests staring off into the water. The wave were so large that the boat was seriously rocking back and forth and back and forth but it didn't matter to me, we didn't come this whole way just to be sick. So I got up and started staring into the water with the rest of the people. Then like magic we heard a big breathing sound, like that of someone breathing out heavily, then we saw a large, dark blue, shiney surface, just above the water, then a huge tail...a whale in the wild. I was amazed. It was so mysterious. Where did it come from and where was it going? Seeing the first whale excited the crowd on our boat. It was seriously amazing. Time after time we would hear and see the same things and every time the moment was filled with awe and mystery.





Probably my neatest experience with the whole whale watching adventure was when we were all waiting around for more whales to surface and I went over to the other side of the boat, away from the crowd. I was just sitting, waiting for another spotting, when all of the sudden 2 whales surfaced about 50 feet from our boat on the side where I was sitting. I heard the breathing, and physically saw their blow holes and the texture of their skin. It kind of startled me...I was in shock...

This is the closest picture I found as to what I saw...I saw more of the tops of their back and then their little fin piece...much closer than this.

Then as we were headed out, mostly because people were spewing from the choppiness of the water, we saw 2 whales jumping nose first out of the water and then splashing down if to rejoice the fact that the humans were leaving them alone. SO COOL!




The ocean was so vast, so deep, so wide, so many different species of animal, but the Lord knows where each is at all times. He provides food and shelter for them. He knew we were going to be going out to this area last Saturday and blessed us by providing real "encounters" with these amazing animals. I felt so loved by God. So treasured. And I thought about the part in the Bible, in Job, where God is talking about who He is and how no one is before Him. He created all things, and all things are in His control. Yet, He cares for me even when I might not understand His ways. He is good!

Green Life

I thought that all of the green life was dead, that I had killed it all, but I didn't; there is still a flower growing.

Honestly

This evening so many things are running through my mind, thought about home, about love, about work, dinner, gifts...I can't seem to stay put on any of them. They are just rolling and running around in there, trying not to bump into each other. So this blog is going to be about the ramblings that are in my mind. We'll see what happens.


Sometimes I wonder where all the people have gone in my life. I have my husband here and a friend or two (the good, real ones), but where are all the others? I guess my life used to be characterized by going places, doing things, being someone because there was always someplace to go, something to do, or someone to be.

What happens when that all disappears seemingly overnight? Do I cease to exist?

I don't think so, although sometimes I feel like it. Sometimes I try to think why on earth I am in Okinawa, Japan living on a Marine Base where sometimes the loneliness is more than I can bare. If I psychoanalyze myself enough I can come up with some really good answers to the questions I've asked above. They'd be well thought out and "spiritual." For example, "The Lord is teaching me a great deal," which He is, or "I was using places, people, and my sense of being to characterize who I am, my worth, if you will, in this world," which is probably a true answer, but those answers are not what I feel. They give no weight when there is still a hole here and now. I know the answer is, "turn to Jesus." Sometimes that is easier said than done.

picture this

Picture this:

a short man wearing a purple swishy jump suit, hip in the US in the late 1980s.
a family, mother, father, baby, asleep under the shade of a tree near the ocean.
a wrinkly, hunch back woman walking so slowly that you have to check twice to see if she's even moving.

Picture this:

a woman in her mid 30s walking, taking pictures, and running with a little brown yuppy dog.
a man with semi-long black hair doing the "japanese shuffle", a.k.a. barely jogging.
a few kids smiling, throwing a single leaf into the air and watching the wind catch it and twirl it around.

Picture this:

a woman, slowly dancing, very quaint, dressed in traditional clothing, skin so pale, lips so red.
a couple, the woman wearing a hat to cover her face from the sun, the man wearing a fanny pack, dressed in workout clothes, walking along the beach.
a boy, about 11 yrs. old, taking a break from fishing, peeking over the ledge to watch the American pass by.

Picture this:

a man, elderly, sitting under the shade of a tree on a mat, reading a book.
a man, "hiding" from the view of others, peeing.
a group of teenage girls, wearing 3 to 4 inch heel, dressed in their finest hanging out at a bbq on the beach.


Life is so short. I pray that I am able to take it ALL in, every detail.

Lover's Holiday

Yesterday was the lover's holiday...even though my love was away, I didn't feel the void as I normally do. Life with people, although messy, is at times such a blessing!

"The heart of all those seeking after truth..."

Jesus, Thou Joy of loving hearts,
Thou Fount of life, Thou Light of men,
From the best bliss that earth imparts,
We turn unfilled to Thee again.
Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on Thee call;
To them that seek Thee Thou art good,
To them that find Thee all in all.
We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread,
And long to feast upon Thee still;
We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead,
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill.
Our restless spirits yearn for Thee,
Where'er our changeful lot is cast;
Glad when They gracious smile we see,
Blessed when our faith can hold Thee fast.
O Jesus ever with us stay,
Make all our moments calm and bright;
Chase the dark night of sin away,
Shed over the world Thy holy light.

Bernard of Clairvaux