THE DAILY CUP - 5/31/2014 Fear Factors Love BY the sea. Love ON the sea. IN the sea, not so much! Its like this. I did not grow up in a water family. (Were from West Texas what can I say.) Our idea of a wading pool was turning on the sprinkler in the front yard. When I was in the 4th grade a neighbor kid down the street was going to take swim lessons at the Y. I was invited to go. I hated it. Im a nose breather and that doesnt work well in the water. I was forever snorting up the chlorinated water and would leave every session with a headache. I really did not like it. I learned to swim, of course, through Scouts. I can swim across the pool, jump, dive, do different kinds of strokes, etc. So thought I could handle the snorkeling on this trip to the Bahamas. But then I didnt have a mask that fit and my mask filled up with water. My snorkeling vest kept riding up and basically pushing me down. Flash backs to 4th grade swim lessons! But facing down my fear is something I had to do, so I pushed through the panic and kept trying. There was one absolutely perfect snorkel for me with a different mask and a different vest. I was in Thunderball Grotto. It was like being in an aquarium! The fish were all round: Sergeant Majors, Yellowtail Snappers, a Lion fish, a Big-eyed Squirrel fish, and two incredible Queen Angels! It was truly magnificent! A real highlight of the trip and I think the reward for not giving up. The rest of the snorkeling was not nearly as good. Once, I got caught in a very fast current (almost a rip tide) and the last attempt I aspirated sea water in the one to two foot waves. So I came home sick with body aches and chills and a wheezing, wracking cough. Thank God I am feeling better today. Glad to be back and looking forward to a great day at church tomorrow! I missed the Daily Cup as well! That would be a cup of cold water in His name! FRESH water - not salt!
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 14:34:47 +0000