Shamu: Created for Awe
On a recent visit to Sea World, I had the opportunity to see the newest Shamu performance called “Believe.” The show begins with a screen displaying the following: “There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to make a decision whether or not they are going to believe.” It goes on to talk about a young boy’s dream that the mysterious, awesome and beautiful Orca (a killer whale) and man could unite. This boy believes in his dream and…the awesome display of the Shamu show unfolds.
I was deeply moved by the show. I pondered the life of Shamu and his buddies before their Sea World stardom, before they (or their predecessors) were plucked out of a familiar oceanic environment and transplanted into this new, uncharted territory. I am quite certain that they weren’t thinking about how cool it would be to jump out of the water on command when they were entered into this program. I bet if they could answer, they’d say that they just wanted to swim freely in the deep, dark, cool ocean, hunt food, and procreate. Chances are, they weren’t much interested in giving people rides and splashing audiences with their tails. They weren’t thinking of the “more” they could do. But there they were that day, doing all the things they hadn’t previously considered doing; and if you asked anyone in the audience, they’d say doing them effortlessly and joyously.
The trainers will tell you that we (humans) generally underestimate what animals are capable of. But the heart that believes knows differently. The heart that believes knows the Orca was created for awe. The heart that believes is able to awaken unknown abilities hidden deep within. And with every encounter, the trainers whet the appetite of the Orcas for the “something more” until the Orcas find themselves craving to release the awe. The deep of the believing heart calls to the deep of the wooed heart, and what results is amazingly glorious.
Like Shamu and his buddies, you and I have been transplanted into a new environment (a new Kingdom); and we have a Trainer who knows what we are capable of. We may underestimate what we ourselves are capable of, and each other; but God never does. He knows that He created us for awe. He knows the hidden potential within us, for everything He is, is in us – His nature, His essence, His power. We are created in His image – to do the impossible. And with every encounter, He calls forth this potential, that we may be spectacles of His wonder.
Once upon a time, a little boy named Jesus had a dream that one day the mysterious, awesome and beautiful Human (a lost soul) and God could unite. Each of us is now faced with the decision whether or not we are going to believe. Will you believe for the “something more?” Will you be part of the awesome display of Christ’s dream?
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Isaiah 43:10
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
Mark 9:23
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Romans 8:11 (NLT)
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.
Colossians 1:13 (NASB)
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.
Blessed Father, We know there come many times in each of our lives when we have to decide whether or not we are going to believe in the love of Jesus Christ. I pray that we all believe, time and time again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Barb
I was deeply moved by the show. I pondered the life of Shamu and his buddies before their Sea World stardom, before they (or their predecessors) were plucked out of a familiar oceanic environment and transplanted into this new, uncharted territory. I am quite certain that they weren’t thinking about how cool it would be to jump out of the water on command when they were entered into this program. I bet if they could answer, they’d say that they just wanted to swim freely in the deep, dark, cool ocean, hunt food, and procreate. Chances are, they weren’t much interested in giving people rides and splashing audiences with their tails. They weren’t thinking of the “more” they could do. But there they were that day, doing all the things they hadn’t previously considered doing; and if you asked anyone in the audience, they’d say doing them effortlessly and joyously.
The trainers will tell you that we (humans) generally underestimate what animals are capable of. But the heart that believes knows differently. The heart that believes knows the Orca was created for awe. The heart that believes is able to awaken unknown abilities hidden deep within. And with every encounter, the trainers whet the appetite of the Orcas for the “something more” until the Orcas find themselves craving to release the awe. The deep of the believing heart calls to the deep of the wooed heart, and what results is amazingly glorious.
Like Shamu and his buddies, you and I have been transplanted into a new environment (a new Kingdom); and we have a Trainer who knows what we are capable of. We may underestimate what we ourselves are capable of, and each other; but God never does. He knows that He created us for awe. He knows the hidden potential within us, for everything He is, is in us – His nature, His essence, His power. We are created in His image – to do the impossible. And with every encounter, He calls forth this potential, that we may be spectacles of His wonder.
Once upon a time, a little boy named Jesus had a dream that one day the mysterious, awesome and beautiful Human (a lost soul) and God could unite. Each of us is now faced with the decision whether or not we are going to believe. Will you believe for the “something more?” Will you be part of the awesome display of Christ’s dream?
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Isaiah 43:10
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
Mark 9:23
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Romans 8:11 (NLT)
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.
Colossians 1:13 (NASB)
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.
Blessed Father, We know there come many times in each of our lives when we have to decide whether or not we are going to believe in the love of Jesus Christ. I pray that we all believe, time and time again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Barb
posted by BreadBakers at 12:35 PM
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