Reef Walking pt. 2

It's almost 6am, and it's hard to imagine that just two hours ago my roommate Laura and I were wading through the reef at negative tide looking for humpback cowry shells and other little treasures that can only be accessed by foot about twice a year. We were fortunate enough to be able to do this last night, without injury (see my post from November) and decided to go back again tonight. Last time we went, the tide wasn't low enough and we were both banged around on the rocks. This time, the ride was so low that we were literally able to walk on the reef. This kind of tide only happens twice a year, and it just so happens that this is right before Christmas (we dubbed it "Christmas shopping").

Over the last two nights, the sand was lit by the full moon while the rock formations casted shadows over the reef. The coral underneath us was a pinkish yellow color with spots of bright blue and green. We avoided the live corals as we went around small trenches and rock holes. Last night, a green and yellow baby octopus was gliding across the reef while we paused to just watch it. Tonight, bright blue parrot fish were sleeping near rocks. They were about the size of our forearms. Coral fish in bright reds, oranges, pinks, and designs wove in and out of the reef and our ankles. Sea urchins hid under rocks, while brightly colored crabs scattered above and below them. There is a type of fish that jumps around on the rocks, and one large fish, about seven inches, jumped out of the water and into a hole in a rock. It was amazing. If only my waterproof camera was working . . ..

Our flashlights helped us see these beautiful animals as we were looking for shiny brown shells. It was as though we were looking for Easter eggs, even though we dubbed them Christmas gifts, as both Laura and I would get excited when we had a find. Some of our shells were as big as the palms of our hands, while others were just under that size. Sometimes they were under rocks and we had to stick our hands in to grab them, and others were just on the reef. We put back the babies, as a fisherman would cast back the fish that weren't quite ready, and in the process found other beautiful shells that were not cowries nor were we looking for them. Whatever happened to catch our eye as we scoped out the reef; a shiny reflection from our flashlight, indicating a spot where not one, but maybe two or three shells would be living.

I guess it's human, and animal, nature to go for shiny, beautiful things. I'm not really into jewelry, but if I were to see a diamond or precious stone hidden amongst some dull rocks, I would want to get it. These shells are like diamonds shining from under and around old, dead coral. It's such a blessing to be able to see and experience the ocean and shore like this. These opportunities don't come up very often, but when they do, I want to really experience God's design. Being able to do that is worship in itself, even if we didn't get any "Christmas gifts/Easter eggs" out of it. The coral, crabs, sleeping fish, jumping fish, fish being fish, the octopus, starfish, and everything else along the way is a beautiful testimony of this great design. I feel blessed spiritually to be able to enjoy it, especially as quality time with my roommate.





Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it Psalm 96:11






(Some of you who are reading this may receive one of these, as we were blessed with many. Merry Christmas :)