I step into the water feeling big.
Excited and keeping my cool, acting tough, I walk into the icy cold water, laughing at my husband and sister-in-law who are still standing in the shallow parts, not willing to go under into the freezing wetness.?Dipping my head under the water just enough to get my goggles in the water, I float, high enough that my tube for oxygen stays in the air.
The last time I went snorkeling it was magical. The sun sparkled and I felt like a mermaid swimming?in the midst of a school of fish. Almost touching them.?This time, the sun isn’t shining.?I see fish, corals and seaweed floats evasively between it, but the water is dark and menacing this time.
All at once I stop. The ground opened up to show a deep gash. And I’m terrified. Like something will grab me.?Not so big and cool anymore, I shiver and wait for Mike to reach me. He wants me to touch the yellow buoy.
We swim over, but I have to make myself. Something about the dark, deep gashes scares me to death. I touch the yellow floaty thing and swim back like my life depends on it.?I saw the anchor keeping it to the bottom of the sea. Deep and dark and mossy, reaching down farther and farther.
Oh yes… I know that exact feeling and I feel the same way. How hard it is to trust our safety, when we can’t quite make out what lies ahead {or below}.
You summed up exactly how I feel about swimming in open water. There is always that irrational fear after the initial surge of independence. Feeling small is eye opening and you capture that perfectly. Great writing!
Omily! So glad you came by my blog so I could meet you! The last paragraph of this post literally brought tears to me eyes because I could somehow sense how one might feel in that moment. When I went to Glacier National Park, I had a similar experience as we drove and wound our way up through the vast mountain range. I stared out the window and cried and said to God, “And you consider ME your greatest creation?” I was overwhelmed at that moment. I had been to the Rockies before, but the Rockies were like ant hills compared to what I experienced at Glacier Park. It was amazing. I can imagine the image of the ocean is a similar feeling with perhaps some fear thrown in because of the dark unending expanse. I’m glad God can cup it all in the palm of his hand. We are surely safe there!
I loved this! Keep up the great writing. 🙂
Blessings!