Fish

I enjoy reading my old journals. Its great for a lot of reasons, but I most enjoy reflecting on the things God has done in my life. Through the words on the page I see growth and pain, joy and hope.

This week has been a week to remember. I look forward reading my journal in a few years from this week, but thats not the point. The point is, in this precious week, I went back and read a journal (likely my favorite) from college.

So much rushes to my mind and heart as I read. Relationships thats now are distant seem so fresh and thoughts are so alive. I had not thought about this, but when I was in college the GA Aquarium opened. I got a season pass and went quite frequently. It was only about an hour away, so if I was having a down day, I would often drive in and just go to the aquarium. I guess its important to know that I love animals. More specially, I love sea lions and penguins and whales and lots of others. I could go into the whys and how it all got started but won't. Just know that I lovvve them.

Back to my journal. I read something I had written about after sitting by the big tank for a few hours. The big tank at the aquarium has all kinds of fish, sharks, sting rays, etc.

The thing that stood out to me was the fish. The least magical animal of them all in the big tank. Many of them are smaller than my hand but much can be said about anything in numbers. Every now and then I would notice a fish that swam off on its own. But my eyes were brought back to the school--the pack, the group, the unity. As just one fish, it seemed slightly insignificant. Small and meaningless. But when they swam in a school of 100's they had power and size. It became magical and noticeable.

It reminded me of me. You know thats how we think. Always about us. Forgive me for being self-centered. As a follower of Christ, we are called to be the light to dark places. In a sea of darkness one light is just that, its one light. But together as a community it is grand. If I alone try to stand out, I often don't. But whats appealing to the fading world is this thing called community. When people see us as a school of fish. Together and united. Building each other up. It invites others in for growth and as a group its magical.

So the fish a few years back were brought to my mind. I long to be a part of something like that here. A deep community, of the same mind, inviting others in.

Blessings