Turtle Time

Image by Mike Rodriquez via Flickr

This a.m. at Lucy Creates! I read a beautiful piece of poetry by author, Judy Brown, entitled "Trough" - I encourage you to read it.  The poetry reflected on the mystery of water and brought to mind an experience I had yesterday with a Maui turtle.

Snorkeling off Kapalua Bay Beach on Maui and  having thoroughly enjoyed the time I was in the water,  I decided to head back in from fish viewing for a while.  Swimming or I should say floating in saltwater is the easiest place anyone would ever want to "experience" the water as there's a natural bouyance that one cannot find in fresh water.  (It took my spouse about 15 years to convince me of that fact.)  Soooo, I just paddled a teeny bit with my flippers and let the waves carry me toward the shore.  My idle plan was to float over any rocks that popped up unexpectantly and cruise into a nice soft, sandy landing.  

As I relaxed and drifted, expecting nothing more than to be caressed and deposited on the shore by the rhythmic waves, I found an unexpected treat almost at my fingertips - a massive green turtle was feeding on the small rocks close to the shoreline.  He was certainly aware of my presence but went about his business and other than my heart beating loudly and a silly smile trapped inside of  my  snorkel mask apparatus, I tried to remain still in order to view him for a while.  I couldn't resist though as my ears came above the water a bit, I could hear people shouting - "there's a turtle, where, where?"  Only for one second did I hesitate to raise my arm above the water and point to my aquatic pal's location.  He swam around as if he was a wind-up turtle for the tourists' pleasure and indeed  many, many smiling faces came out of the water beside and right after me!

As I read Lucy's post and reflected upon the influence of water in our lives, drinking, bathing, swimming, sailing, etc. my "water experience" focused me on this.  I was floating, I was enjoying the embrace of a miracle of life, the water, the fish, the sunlight - expecting nothing more than acceptance of my thanksgiving.  Was it a bonus I received?  An act of nature? A synchronistic happening with me and the turtle - maybe more.  For a second I thought of not sharing my good siting, keeping it only for myself rather than lose the moment.  But that was only a second as I wanted to share the goodness and the thrill of my discovery, my smile with those around me.  It was almost as much fun to see the happy faces laughing and exclaiming as they returned to the beach as it was to spot the turtle!

Isn't life like that for you sometimes or maybe all of the time?  The sharing of one's gifts, the sharing of the Good News, the sharing of love and relationship?  It's such a good thing why don't we do it more often?  Maybe today's the day you and I will share something more important than a turtle siting....but perhaps during or after that sharing, we'll both think of the hard-shelled creature that inspired me yesterday and smile:)


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