My Jellyfish Encounter

First published on Monday, August 15, 2011 at 1:41am

No, not in the water but in a dark large room where some parts of its walls are converted into a glass window showcasing beautiful dancing Jellies. Almost like fairies! (Ahem, as if I'd seen one! lol)

The tour guide explained that, “Jellies are transparent. So we designed the aquarium with shifting lights that create the colors in every jellyfish that you’d see inside”.  

In amazement I was teary-eyed.  No, not at the lights—but at the very beauty of  jellies dancing and waving, as if inviting me to touch them!  There’s a wonderful delight inside me that I couldn’t help my tears from flowing.

Of course, even if there’s an opportunity for me to touch them, it will be unwise to do so.  I learned in biology class and I quote "that touching or being touched by a jellyfish can be very uncomfortable, sometimes requiring medical assistance; sting effects range form no effect to extreme pain to death.  Because of the wide variation in response to jellyfish stings, it is wisest not to contact any jellyfish with bare skin. Even beached and dying jellyfish can still sting when touched."

Joshua then asked me, “Mom, why don’t they sting one another?”  And because I was in deep thought, I replied, “Oh, that’s one great question, son, that mom is not prepared to answer for now.” (If there’s an honest alibi, then consider that to be an example! lol)  Lost in his own delight, my son continued to enjoy the wonderful sights and went ahead.

While I was left on that melancholy mode, I was reminded of our lives as followers of Jesus. When in all abandonment, we surrender and let Him  take full control of our lives, it is like being  transparent to Him.  And the more transparent we become, the very light of our Lord Jesus will bring out the beauty in us and subsequently brings delight to the Almighty Father.

I cannot fully describe my delight as my eyes feasted on the beautiful dancing jellies.  I can only express them through tears.  I left that room with a prayer thanking God for His grace—that through Jesus Christ, we are being delighted by our Heavenly Father.  And what a wonderful privilege to have a taste of such a delight!

PS: 

So what’s the answer to my son’s question?  The book says that a jellyfish stings only their prey. That means they don’t consider one another as prey. As simple as that!  This leads us to another moral of the story--- that true believers of Jesus do not sting one another! ;-)

"Thank you, Lord, for Manila Ocean Park's complimentary ticket. Dateline: 13 August 2011"