Addicted for Life

I'm addicted. Going there is like returning home. And every time I return, it's like I never left. This place is a reflection of majesty and incredible creativity. It is the second largest barrier reef in the world, 1/4 mile off the shore of Ambergris Caye, Belize...

Making sure that there are no coral heads nearby, I plunge into the crystal-clear depths. A sudden chill rushes through my body as the skewed image of turtle grass and sandy ocean bottom comes to life. The humid air and sea gulls are now a world away...further than the vacillating ocean floor was just seconds ago.

The initial chill of the salty water sparks a burst of adrenaline. However, my body quickly adjusts to the startling temperature change since the water is a comfortable 82 degrees Farenheit. Within a few seconds, my breathing and heart rate slow down to normal pace. Fascination and curiosity take over.

Beneath the surface, there is always more the discover. Conch shells that have been cleaned (meaning that the animal was removed for food) provide homes for small, colorful fish and an occasional cleverly-hidden octopus. Fish busily swim beneath me, and I often entertain myself by diving down to the bottom and chasing them with an outstretched arm.

As I approach the reef, the concentration of life augments dramatically. "Click, click, click" sounds through the teeming water as tiny schools of seemingly microscopic organisms float along the surface. Endless varieties of bizarre creatures hide in the coral, waiting for those pesky humans to leave them alone. Around every corner is something new and different. Vigilance is almost always rewarded with a discovery.

The sun's rays are bent on the surface of the water, creating rhythmic patterns of light across the ocean floor and coral heads. Fish, lobster, sea urchins, sea fans, sponges, turtle grass, and endless other forms of life sway back and forth, to and fro, up and down as the water gently glides by. And the dancing sun rays illuminate every movement.

Some types of fish are hyper, zipping around so fast that I get tired just watching them. Others are curious, as though they want to know more about this big, tan-colored creature but are hesitant to move any closer. Schools of fish move together, rest together, hide together, eat together, and respond to threats together. Blue tangs, triggers, and queen angel fish light up the scene with radiant colors. Angel fish bashfully hide behind coral heads. Parrot fish are preoccupied with chomping on coral and don't care who's watching. Lookdowns resemble swimming mirrors; and countless other fish are spotted and striped with luminescent colors.

But predators lurk among these resplendent species. Even the sight of a moray eel is threatening: these common reef-dwellers bare their teeth and viciously chase anyone who comes too close. You never know what's around the next corner, so vigilance is essential for safe observation of marine wildlife.

Although I have enjoyed its splendor since my childhood, I fear the ocean. This fear results in reverence and respect. Throughout my years in Belize, I have witnessed two tragically flawed views of marine life... Many people are paralyzed by fear and miss out on (what I am convinced is) one of the most awe-inspiring parts of God's creation. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, some people don't exercise proper caution, vigilance, and respect for the ocean. This often results in unecessary injury to the person and/or sea life.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

~ Psalm 8:3-9 ~