This January I traveled to Crystal River, Florida and
snorkeled with manatees in their wild habitat within the natural springs
located there. I snorkeled one day in Crystal River and a second day in
Homosassa, each location having its own population of manatees hiding from the
cold waters in the Gulf of Mexico. Manatees come inland into the warm springs
because they cannot live for long periods of time in cold water or tolerate temperatures
lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit (Save the Manatee Club, 2021).
When a manatee approaches a human snorkeling in the
water with curiosity and no fear, there is something magical about their snotty
kiss on your scuba goggles that fogs up your vision. In these waters, manatee
respect and etiquette dictate that you do not reach out to the animal but
rather let it come to you. Once an animal is literally a few inches from you,
you cannot help but touch it, and like a dog, some manatees want to play in the
water and receive a good back scratching.
While it might sound very simplistic, a manatee’s
demeanor in the water reminds me of the nature of God. Boat motors mangle these
creatures with their sharp propellers, more often than not due to the
negligence of the person steering the boat. Boaters often ignore the protected
safe zones and the legal warnings that request neutral idle speeds in shallow
waters, including the Floridian springs. Regardless of the harm done, sometimes
with the innocence of a child, a manatee will still bless a human with its
presence without any malicious intent. Grace is given, and nothing (action or
gift) is requested in return.
God’s gift to humanity in salvation works the very
same way. God expects nothing in return but surrender and faith in the
sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. His grace flows through the Holy Spirit into
our souls and bodies to act as a testimony to the world for His good will and
His good purposes. All God asks is that our hearts be given to Him in faith
with our steps moving forward….nothing more….and nothing less.
As the father of Annabelle, I can learn much from the
manatees and the beauty of God’s wild creation. In fact, we should treat all the
animals and sea creatures of His creation with the same reverence we do humans.
When individuals hurt or kill an animal with malice, illogical reasoning, it emotionally
unnerves me (i.e. illegal poaching, neglecting pets, hunting out of season,
etc.)! Who, in their right mind, would do such activities without respect for
the animals?!?! In my own international travels, I have heard that shark oil
has magical properties, the tusks of an elephant bring good fortunes, and
ingredients from a tortoise make multi-thousand-dollar perfumes. Of course,
these stories all seem like dysfunctional, irrational behaviors. Again, how
cowardly can a person be to harm a defenseless animal?!?! If a person truly respected
God’s creation, there would be a veneration for all living things, not simply
to indulge in mistaken, misguided intentions, selfishness, and beliefs.
For anyone who has felt the kiss and warmth of a manatee’s gentle nature, there would be no malice in the heart of such an encounter. And for a God who works for the good of all who profess the name of Jesus, no malice will come our way. Yes, I will remember my wonderful days in those warm springs! I will remember the lessons of grace shown to me by the manatees, and as Annabelle’s father, I will pass those lessons down onto her as well.
“Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.”
-Psalm 148:7-13
Works
Cited List
Save The Manatee Club (2021). Migration.
https://www.savethemanatee.org/manatees/migration/#:~:text=Manatees%20need%20warm%20water%20to,for%20long%20periods%20of%20time.
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