THE DELIGHT OF THE DOLPHINS

Missionaries from Romania—actually, a Romanian pastor and his wife—are in town this week, speaking at our church during service times. They're staying with parishioners, and we've enjoyed some good times of fellowship.

Yesterday, we were invited to have lunch with them, and after we ate a luscious meal, we all went out on the lanai (porch) overlooking the water and sat in big rockers and chatted. The birds flitted in and out of the bird feeders and houses—hummingbirds, painted buntings, cardinals, bluebirds, and titmice, a feast for our eyes as we watched them, and the squirrels played their climbing and chasing games up and down the trunks of majestic oaks, and the colorful flowers were a sight to behold.

Then, suddenly, Milton spotted a dolphin in the water and exclaimed, and we all jumped up to see it. I got to the water just as it went under, and I saw a huge ring of splash bubbles where it had jumped up and then landed in the water. Then, suddenly, there he was again, a silver streak into the sky and splat, down into the water, leaving another huge ring of splash bubbles, as if he were saying, "Life is so grand; I'm so happy I think I'll jump for joy; isn't this fun?"

And then we saw two dolphins not just one, apparently playing with each other and cavorting in the water. It was an exciting sight. Milton grabbed the camera, but they were so fast, he couldn't capture them in a photo, except for just barely. If you look closely at the picture of the water, on the far right you'll see something silver on the surface of the water. That's the dolphin.


Dolphins are known to be playful creatures. According to wikipedia.org, the year 2007 has been declared as International Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Programme.

Last night, the pastor from Romania talked about rejoicing through your trials, as the Bible instructs. When he said it, I thought about the delight of the dolphins we'd seen that afternoon, and I said in my heart, "Lord, let me delight in You even through hardships and trials. Help me to praise You when it rains and when it doesn't, when things are great and when they're not. Help me to 'rejoice in all things.'"

It's interesting to me that the Bible was written thousands of years ago, yet psychologists will tell you to apply this same concept to your trials and difficulties. And God knew all along. He created us. He knows what we need to do in every circumstance.

Rejoice, no matter how life's treating you!