I sit in the white sand, an audience to the insects performing their antics. Dragonflies hover over the water, their iridescent wings whispering. The buzz of honey bees as they skip from one flower petal stage to another. A daddy long legs tip toes across my foot. I wiggle my foot to shake him off and bury my toes in the warm sand. In the distance I hear a splash, a frisky fish jumps to catch a breath of golden air. I close my eyes and breathe deeply.
The shimmering swells call to me. I rise. My feet sink into the sand as I walk toward the water and slip in. The water is warm, inviting. From wading until the sandy bottom is beyond my step, swimming. I hold my breath and slip beneath the surface, leaving only the ripples to mark my presence.
The suns golden fingers reach down from the heavens and swish through the clear waters illuminating the life before me. Green plants sway in rhythm to the dance of the water. The sand shifts this way and that creating artwork that it reworks only moments later, as if it cannot make peace with it's accomplishments. Schools of fish swim by, taking me in with a wary eye, they move together as if choreographed. Silence is the music of this place.
I break the surface and fill my lungs with air. In and out, fast short breaths slow to long, deep ones. A dragonfly lands on my head for a moment, resting his wings before lifting off. Below the water, something brushes past my leg. I shriek and thrash wildly, imagining what lurks below. A long slow breath in and I plunge back under to explore again.
Another brush against my leg and I turn to see what is there. Before I can catch a glimpse, I feel something wrap around me. Panicked, I fight against the pressure of the grip. Soft black arms reach around me like ropes, tighter, my body held as if in a spiders web. My flailing achieves more bondage than freedom. I am completely powerless against the creature that holds me fast .The water blinds me as I look for my attacker. I cannot make out a shape. Darkness surrounds. My lungs scream. Seconds feel like hours.
The reality surrounding me takes root in my mind. I will fight until I cannot but I have made peace with my end. I am certain of it's nearness. I see stars.
As suddenly as the attack started, it ends. I am alone. Nearer to the surface than I anticipated, my head breaks free and greets the sweet, life giving air. I startle myself with the sound of gasping. I am spent but closer to my hidden foe than I wish to be. Swimming with all my might back to the sandy shore my mind plays tricks on me as the water brushes my skin.
My heart pounds wildly in my chest, my breath comes in small gasps, water pours into my mouth. I sift out the brackish water with my tongue, although some trickles down my throat. I am not a skillful swimmer, but achieve the distance in record time. The water is shallow here and I crawl from the water through the sand. It sticks to my damp skin. On my feet, I stumble back on to the soft grass and sink into it's softness.
The golden world now welcomes me as a weary traveller returning. The soft breeze carries the scent of blossoms and whispers through the pine needles high above me. An ant, and then another, crawl over my fingers. The haunting cry of a loon echos. My breath slows. I am safe.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
and through the rivers,
they shall not overwhelm you.
When you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God, the holy One of Israel
your Savior...
Fear not, for I am with you."
Isaiah 43:2, 3a, 5a ESV
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