A Whole New World

This summer I snorkeled for my very first time.  I LOVED it!  Right at first I felt slightly panicked with my face down in the water, breathing through a tube.  It took a little time to get used to.
When I was able to relax and just enjoy the "scenery," snorkeling opened up a whole new world I had never experienced!  Because your ears are under the water, it's quiet and serene.  Just a few feet below me was a coral reef--green, purple and off-white.  The coral created mini caves, nooks and crannies where the sea urchins liked to rest.  Sea urchins look like porcupine balls--little spikey round things. They ranged in size from a small melon down to golf ball size.  They come in all different colors.

There were also numerous plant-looking critters that had attached themselves to the coral, swaying in rhythm to the waves of the ocean.  My body swayed with them, gently up and down, side to side.  There were all kinds of fish I had never seen before, or had only seen in pamphlets or TV.
I found snorkeling very conducive to prayer or meditation, much like hiking into the mountains all alone and then sitting to take in the rustling leaves of the Aspen trees, the sound of a stream, etc, and simply ponder life and our purposes hear.

One particular day, I was snorkeling a ways away from everyone.  With my snorkel on and my face down in the water, I felt worlds away.  I was fascinated by all the varieties of beautiful fish.  They were all shapes, colors, designs.  Amusing, to say the least!  I was enthralled by them.  As I marveled, I prayed, thanking Father in Heaven for the experience.  Then I asked, "Why are the fish so colorful?"

Before I could even finish the thought, the words came into my mind, "For you.  It's all for you."
I began to ponder on that.  The fish don't need to be colorful for survival.  I have no idea how long it took for Jesus and Michael to think up, design, and create each variety of fish, each one with such intricate detail, color, design and beauty.  But the point is, the time was taken to do it.  Why?  Because we are infinitely loved by God and His son, Jesus Christ.
I have, several times, since snorkeling, related that experience to life and God's love for us.  We often go through life only noticing the surface of the ocean, if you will.  We see the rolling waves, the way the sun glistens off each little wave, creating a sparkling surface.  We see all kinds of birds above, swooping down and up again.  Occasionally we even see dolphins or sea turtles and think, "Wow, that's amazing. This is pretty great."  And that's that.

But what if we were to make the effort to look beneath the surface?  To put forth some extra effort--put on that snorkel gear and wade into the water.  A whole new world opens up to us.  An exhilerating world of beauty and wonder that we'd never experience, nor ever know existed, if we were content with whatever was before us.
So how to we "wade into the water and put on that snorkel"?  What did Lehi's family have to do to enjoy the fruit that was sweet above all he had ever tasted, which filled Lehi's soul with joy, which fruit was desirable to make one happy"? 1 Nephi 8: 10-12  They had to hold fast to the iron rod, or word of God.

  The word of God (which includes scriptures, words of the living prophtes, and personal revelation) leads us to the fruit, which is His love!  Which is desirable to make one happy!
I believe when we are filled with God's love, our eyes are opened up to a whole new beautiful world.
The whole reason He has given us scriptures, prophets, personal revelation, is because we are that we might have joy. 2 Nephi 2:25

My goal is to make that extra effort each day, to put on that mask and to bask in God's love.  The outcome, I've found, is well worth the effort.  When I feel an abundance of His love every day, I'm able to share it.  If you're reading this blog, it's because I love you, and I want to share His love with you. Now go!  Go get wet and see for yourself. :)