While in Florida Bob and I went to the Clearwater Aquarium. Those of you who saw the delightful movie, "A Dolphin's Tale" (you can rent the DVD) last year probably remember that the little dolphin who lost her tail, Winter, is housed in that facility. The story itself, is largely fictionalized, but Winter is definitely for real.
It was fun to see her and the facility itself, where the the movie was filmed. We were delighted as her caregivers put Winter and a couple of other dolphins through their paces, and it was obvious that the dolphins were enjoying the attention of the crowd. Winter had thoroughly acclimated to living without her tail, worming her way through the water like an eel. We were told that the prosthetic tail was only used for an hour or two a day for physical therapy. Very interesting.
Winter's story had brought a lot of attention and money to the little aquarium. This is important, because the mission of the Clearwater Aquarium is not to hold animals hostage for the entertainment of the world. Their mission is to "rescue, rehab, and release." While Winter obviously could never survive in the wild, the very heart and soul of the facility is to rescue and heal those marine animals who have been injured, largely by the trappings of the fishing and crabbing industries, and then to set them free.
On the long drive back to her house, my cousin and I were suddenly struck by the mission statement of the Clearwater Aquarium: "rescue, rehab, and release." Really. Because isn't that what Christ does for us?
We are out there, swimming around in the sea of humanity; snares are grabbing at us from right and left. The snare might be called illness, or adultery, or jealousy, or alcoholism. There are endless nsares out there, waiting to catch us, until finally, something awful manages to grab us. So there we are, thrashing around, unable to save ourselves.
Until Christ enters the picture. He gently untangles the snares from around our sad, sorry selves and rescues us into the safety of His care. Through prayers, study, and the care of others around us, we begin to heal. As we are rehabilitated into the Body of Christ we grow stronger and stronger.
Then comes the precious day when Christ smiles at us and says, My son, my daughter, you are healed and whole. Let me release you back into the seas that your wholeness might be a light onto the rest of my people, lighting the way for all to come to me."
Of course, while the sea animals who are rehabilitated in Clearwater are released back into the seas without any further care, OUR Rescuer makes sure that we know our way back to Him, that we may continually receive His nurture, even while we are released and free to live our lives for Him.
Thanks be to God!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Pam
