By Anne Archer Butcher
Going Home To Renew
It was Christmas vacation, and I went home for the holiday to visit my mother on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. I loved coming to the island. It renewed my sense of self and restored my health. Here I felt connected to my roots, nature, and the vast oceans. At the time of this visit, on Christmas Day, I had graduated from college and was teaching high school. I loved my work, but it was very demanding physically, emotionally, and mentally.
The island was a sanctuary where I felt that the universe might actually hear my call for renewal.
I longed to just dive into the ocean and swim until I could swim no more. I wanted to vent my energies and relax totally. I was always a strong swimmer, and my family had called me a fish because I taught myself how to swim at age two. As a child, I'd swim long distances, staying in the water all day and loving every minute.
Around noon on this holiday, I went to the beach and walked alone on the warm sands along the water's edge. The sun was brilliant, but most people sitting on the beach probably thought that the water was too cool for swimming. Vacationers on this international island resort greeted me with a variety of accents as I gathered shells.
Into The Ocean
When I felt warm enough, I walked into the ocean waves and dove in. I swam hard and fast. Even when I felt tired, I continued. At last I rolled over on my back and looked toward the beach. I was amazed to be so far from the shore. The people on the beach were tiny specks, and a large expanse of ocean waves separated us.
This had been my family home for years, so I knew these waters well. My mind raced to warnings I'd received. The few sharks that had ever been sighted in this area were known to be attracted to shrimp boats, but none were in sight. Even though no one else was in the water, I didn't feel frightened.
I began my long swim back with strong strokes. I loved the smell of the fresh salt air. The water's temperature had become comfortable.
I swam with total abandon until I again checked the shoreline. It was as if I'd barely moved. I could feel myself being pulled out to sea. Trying not to panic, I reminded myself that people watching me from the shore had probably seen how far I'd gone out.
Friend or Foe?
Suddenly, I was frozen with fear because off to my left a dark fin moved directly toward me. My heart pounded wildly. I stopped swimming and attempted to float and bob in the water, stretching out like a log on the surface. I could barely breathe. I closed my eyes. I tried desperately to keep my mind from entertaining the horrors of being eaten by a shark. Suddenly, a powerful, smooth, sleek body rose underneath me.
I couldn't imagine what was happening. I felt my body being lifted slightly. While gliding across the water's surface, I was being moved toward the shore.
Then slowly, gently, I was lowered back into the ocean. But immediately, I felt again the strange sensation of a powerful body rising up, then lifting and carrying me forward.
The surface of the water broke in front of me and I could finally see the creature who had been carrying me. It was a beautiful dolphin who jumped through the air, looked at me, dived to the left, and dipped under the water again. All the while, I was moved through the water at great speed as another of these wonderful animals carried me on his back.
Soon, a school of dolphins was circling all around me. One at a time they moved beneath me, each lifting and gradually carrying me back toward shore as if they were performing an orchestrated dance or choreographed ballet.
After each dolphin took his turn carrying me, he then leaped in front and swam around to begin again. One to the left. One to the right. Quickly and smoothly, they brought me to chest-high water. Then they encircled me, spinning, diving, smiling. The dolphins called out in an amazing, high-pitched language that filled me with delight.
I clapped in appreciation for the show they were providing. Touched and in awe, I couldn't stop talking to and thanking them. Eventually, they turned, said farewell, and danced out to sea.
By this time, a crowd of people had gathered on the shore. They'd seen the dark fin and anticipated a shark attack. After watching my incredible return on the backs of frolicking dolphins, they greeted me, laughing, talking, and asking about how the dolphins had rescued me.
What a memorable moment! We were a group of people from all over the world who had somehow come together to witness something none of us would ever forget. It was a marvelous gift on this special Christmas Day.
The dolphins helped me relate to the blessings of nature as I had never before. I became more aware that all life is connected by a divine thread of love. Totally renewed in spirit, I felt confident that the universe supports me.
Note: Linda's father told us that in the U.S. Navy during World War II, many stories circulated about dolphins who saved sailors from drowning after their ships wrecked. The dolphins would carry the men back to shore and safety.
Meditation
Is there someone in your life who has hit choppy waters or floated too far out and needs a ride on your back to make it to shore?
From the book Angel Animasl. Copyright 1999, 2007 by Allen and Linda Anderson. Reprinted with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA. http://www.newworldlibrary.com/