Tender Care

"How many are Your works, LORD!  In wisdom You made them all … There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small.” Psalms104

In the depths of Maui's waters swims one of God's most magnificent creatures - the humpback whale.  These gentle giants, weighing up to forty tons and reaching lengths of fifty feet (picture seven African elephants in a large school bus), exhibits an artistry that points to the divine creativity of their Creator.  Each year many of these extraordinary creatures embark on one of the longest migrations of any mammal - traveling thousands of miles from feeding grounds to breeding waters.  Like these majestic beings, I too have journeyed to Maui's waters, where I now find myself in a boat, watching in awe as they traverse the deep.  Their trek mirrors my own walk of faith, as they press forward through vast ocean expanses, guided by an unseen hand toward distant shores.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He [God] will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3

Out here on Maui's waters, each day brings a fresh reminder of God's intricate design and tender care.  No matter how many times I venture out, that mix of anticipation and wonder never fades.  Through my countless voyages, I've learned that the waiting itself is sacred - those quiet moments when the ocean seems to hold its breath, reminding me that God's timing is always perfect, even when I can't see what's coming.  Then, without warning, a massive whale suddenly appears from the depths, competing with raw power and grace, unveiling God's imagination in every breach, tail throw and dive.  Their passionate display reminds me of how God calls me to live with purpose, holding nothing back in pursuit of what matters most today.

"Ask the animals, and they will teach you... let the fish in the sea inform you." - Job 12

As I watch these magnificent creatures disappear beneath the water’s surface, a question echoes in my heart: “am I truly living with purpose, or am I holding back?”  The answer appeared in an unexpected detail - when I noticed a whale's fluke encrusted with tiny parasites known as whale lice.  Just as these lice silently attach themselves to these majestic creatures, I too can unknowingly accumulate burdens that cling to my life.  Like these tiny parasites that feed on the whale's flesh, negative attitudes and unresolved hurts can gradually erode our joy and purpose.  While a whale may carry these hitchhikers across vast oceans, I began to wonder about my own "parasites" - those things I might be carrying without even realizing their weight.  Is there a bitter root from an old wound that I've gotten so used to carrying that it feels normal now?  Has pride attached itself so gradually that I've stopped noticing its presence?  These spiritual lice may seem small and harmless at first, but over time they can create vulnerable spots in our hearts, much like the whale lice tend to congregate in the whale's wounds and creases.

However, unlike whales who have limited ability to rid themselves of these parasites, you and I have access to something greater - God's grace, which can both reveal these burdens and give us the strength to release them.  Sometimes it takes a quiet moment on the ocean, watching these magnificent creatures, to realize what burdens I might be carrying and to recognize that I don't have to carry them any longer.

Yet God's lessons through these majestic creatures don't end there.  As I continue to watch the ocean unfold its stories, I witnessed another face of divine love through the mother whales.  Here in Maui's nurturing waters, a beautiful dance of devotion plays out beneath the surface.  A baby calf is never allowed to stray from the safety of its mother's massive pectoral fins - a living picture of God's protective embrace.  These mothers embody sacrificial love in its purest form, fasting entirely during their Hawaiian sojourn while their calves drink in life - 50 to 100 pounds of rich milk every hour.  The mother's own body surrenders up to 100 pounds daily to nourish her young one, mirroring how God pours out abundant provision in our seasons of growth and vulnerability.

Among the most touching sights I've witnessed is that of a baby whale resting on its mother's rostrum (head), creating a foundation of a living cathedral rising from the depths.  Even as her spirited calf practices its strength through endless tail slaps - reminiscent of a toddler's joyful exploration of movement - this mom remains steadfast, her patience as enormous as the ocean itself.  Hour after hour, she guides her little one through what I've come to think of as "whale calisthenics" - a series of breaches, dives, and precise maneuvers.  Each repetition building the strength and skill her calf will need for the challenging journey back home.  In these intimate moments between mother and calf, I see a reflection of how God patiently trains me, using life's challenges to build my spiritual muscles and deepen my trust for the greater journeys He has planned for me.  Through deep waters and sun-dappled surfaces, God remains as constant as the ocean currents. When I’m weary, He provides rest as sure as a mother whale lifting her calf to breathe.  When I need strength, He trains me as purposefully as those maternal whale exercise their young.  And when it's time to venture into deeper waters, He's there - teaching, guiding, and supporting me through each new breach and dive.

"When you pass through the waters, I [God] will be with you.” Isaiah 43

The vastness of the Pacific ocean that these whales traverse might seem overwhelming, just as our own life journeys can feel daunting.  But these magnificent creatures don't swim by sight - they trust ancient songs and God’s inner guidance to lead them to their true destination.  Their journey testifies to God's faithful design, their patient nurturing reflects His tender care, and their mighty leaps remind us that with His strength, we too can rise above the surface of our circumstances into something beautiful and unexpected.  These gentle giants of the sea invite us to trust, to persist, and to journey forward with purpose - knowing that every deep dive and every surface breath is held in the hands of the One who set the boundaries of the seas and fills them with such wonders as these.

"In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him.  The sea is His, for He [God] made it, and His hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95