Come alive

A couple of years ago on a laid-back Saturday morning, our girls stumbled upon a movie called Dolphin Tale. The movie dramatizes the true story of a dolphin, named Winter, who is rescued and rehabilitated after getting caught in a fishing net off the coast of Florida and subsequently losing her tail. A team of experts made a special prosthetic tail for her that enables her to live a more normal life, but because of her limitations Winter permanently resides at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida.

Ever since she saw the first movie {there is a sequel}, our youngest one is completely enamored by dolphins. She talks about them, draws pictures of them, owns several stuffed and toy versions of them, and even sports a backpack with a large picture of two on it. Last year she was struggling in the area of reading chapter books until she came across a book called Dolphins at Daybreak. On that day she realized she could read stories about something she cared about, and a light came on. She is motivated to do hard things—to read, learn, and even swim better—by this interest in dolphins.

In October, her birthday month, we were planning a fall break trip to Central Florida and knew we would be close enough to visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. I had heard from friends, though, that Winter is very reserved and not always visible or interactive with guests. When I told our youngest I wasn’t sure we should go and risk that disappointment, she was crushed.

Her: I have to see Winter!
Me: I know you want to do that. But I called down there, and I just want you to understand that Winter is getting older and doesn’t always feel well. So, we may get there and not be able to see her. It won’t be like the movie.
Her {eyes welling up with tears}: Fine!! I don’t want to go. We’ll just skip it!

And with that she slammed the door to her room and cried for awhile.

I considered getting tickets to Sea World instead, knowing there would be trained dolphins there that would wow us all. But I’ll wrap this story up by telling you we took our chances on a disappointment and made a trek to the CMA after all.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her more excited. The CMA isn’t big or glamorous, but Winter is there—very shy and slower than her younger cohorts. And that day a hope was fulfilled and a fire fanned into flames for a starstruck second-grader.

I’ve never been particularly drawn to marine life. I don’t love the smell of saltwater or fish. But standing there watching these flawed, famously found dolphins swim around to the amusement of a crowd felt like we were watching something almost holy. It was a wonder to see these beautiful creatures swim, hear them whistle, and realize for just a minute how much bigger and more amazing the world is than I dare to think about most days.

Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because those are signs that the holy is drawing near.

Frederick Buechner

I’m not writing this post to talk about my child’s interests, to advertise the Clearwater Aquarium, or to advocate for dolphins. I’m writing it to remind myself how important it is to pay attention to what makes us come alive and feel most deeply. As I see these passions arise in my own kids—for dolphins or dance or piano—I’m trying to figure out what it looks like to come alongside them and nurture those interests before they wane as they too often do when adulthood sets in. Instead of steering them toward my personal agendas for their futures, what does it look like to point them toward God’s calling on their lives in light of their gifts and interests? I want, somehow, to give them a vision for ways they can bring God glory in any sphere with the passions He has placed within them.

I’m also reminded how important it is to have passion—or rekindle forgotten passion—for something at every age. The suburbs do a fine job of keeping us numb to life beyond our sidewalks, schools, and schedules. What would it look like for us, even as grown women and men, to get interested in something and become more alive and more connected to others because of it?

Maybe it’s sailing, baking, building, painting, hiking, quilting, crafting, gardening, or running. Maybe it’s dolphins? I don’t know what it is for you, and I’m not sure I know quite yet what it is for me. But I know God wants us to be people who are fully awake, in awe of His creativity, and eagerly looking for ways to get involved in redeeming this world and reveling in its wonders. Because the wonders are many.

I love this prayer from Ephesians 3:18-19 in The Message:

“I ask him that with both feet plated firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all the followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”

And, then this in Psalm 98:1 and 7:

“Sing to God a brand-new song.
He’s made a world of wonders!…
Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,
With everything living on earth joining in.”

Dolphins included.