The Whole of Us

The Red Sea is something out of a childrens storybook. Just beyond the heat, dirt and harsh barenness of the desert is an underwater playground full of character, life and vibrancy.

You can read all about our time on the Red Sea in Marsa Alam here.

One of the most popular activities for people heading to Marsa Alam is taking a boat tour to go snorkelling, while searching for turtles, dolphins and dugong (sea cows). We were super exited to find dolphins and turtles, but didn’t have much luck finding the elusive dugong. 

While any day out on the water is a great day, the snorkelling wasn’t as good as at the resort house-reef, and we were disappointed with the huge crowds all vying for a glimpse of anything worth noticing. I will say that recent laws enforcing life jackets on all guests is a huge win for the marine-life here, meaning no one is able dive down and touch the animals.  

Just as we were about to leave our last stop and head home things got interesting; someone from another boat sounding the alarm because a dugong had been spotted. It was mayhem, people grabbing snorkels as fast as the could and flinging themselves into zodiacs. Eventually we realised if we wanted a glimpse of the animal, we’d better hurry.

The last zodiac to leave the docked boats, with at least six ahead of us, each carrying ten passengers, we finally zipped off through the water. One dugong and at least 70 people! That poor dugong. Even if we did find it, we’d be lucky to get a glimpse and at this point, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to.

As we trailed behind all the other zodiacs some began to turn back, believing that the dugong was long gone. As clear as if a voice had spoken I heard ‘You just wait and see what I’m about to do’.

I’ve noticed myself quick to shut down the voice of hope. The belief that it is better to not hope and save the crushing disappointment. In this moment though, I chose in. I could feel that bubbling up of anticipation. Something special was about to happen. Suddenly shouts from one of the remaining boats… they’d found it. 

As two boats emptied their passengers into the water and people began frantically looking for the mammal, our zodiac approached. Coming to a stop, everyone jumped from the right side into the water.

Except me.

I jumped from the left side, just as the dugong swam under our boat and away from the crowd. 

I hit the water, immediately opened my eyes, and came face to face with the dugong. It looked at me and I looked at it. This enormous creature, that seemingly floated through the water, and me. The boat I had jumped from was now blocking everyone else in the water from following. It was a Red Sea moment where God had cleared a path before me, away from everyone else, all the people, noise and chaos. 

When I say I was close, I could have climbed on top of it and given it a hug. I see its eye watching me as we swim next to each other. Away from everyone else, time seemed to slow. There I was, just the dugong and I, swimming side by side in some of the most perfectly clear water I’ve swum in. 

I knew God had orchestrated this moment just for me.

But I felt the panic that I wouldn’t be able to share this with anyone else. I’d left the camera behind, and Tom and the girls were caught up in the throngs of people, scrambling for a glimpse of an animal that was long gone.

It was just me and the dugong.

I can feel it even as I type this. Absolute silence. Peace and awe. Joy and bewilderment. Gliding through the water together, less than an arms distance apart, its eye carefully watching me. I’ll never forget it.

Could it be that such an encounter was meant just for me?

When we spend our lives looking for proof that we’re not worthy, that we don’t deserve good things, we will find it. We’ll push it away, deny it, and even when it’s right in front of us, question and dismiss it.

The opposite is also true. When we notice the blessings and turn our attention towards gratitude even the smallest of things can impact our hearts. A flower on the side walk, a sunny day, even an encounter with an incredible animal.

Stop looking for ways to explain away the opportunities and blessings that come your way. Allow awe and delight to impact you and resonate within your soul. You are worthy of good things. Wonderful things are already in motions just for you.

If you believe that you were created to be delighted in, to delight in the one who created you, and to delight in others, then there is no end to hope, opportunity and joy!

What’s something, right now, that you can notice to see goodness and blessing in your life?

Have you had an incredible encounter with an animal in the wild?