Father and whales

This week our lesson starts with something Jesus said.  "Your Father knows what you need before you ask." I read something that told that Jesus only called God, "Father".  I have been thinking a lot about this. If you say and think Father when talking about God it gives a different feeling.  If you say Father God the meaning (in my thinking) slips back into my usual idea of God.  Just saying Father brings a closeness, a caring relationship.  The same with Mother as a name for God.

I was thinking a lot about these thoughts when I was out on my paddle board Tuesday looking for whales. Then a baby whale breached (jumped into the air) about 100 meters from me.

 I actually had been feeling jealous of people that had been out on the water with the whales this year.  They had wonderful close encounters with the whales but I had not. (Jealousy is NOT good and I try to get rid of it.) I was thinking about this one day when I was on the water and God told me, "All of my creation is good. Do you want it all?" That made me humble. Of course I don't want all the good for myself. That wouldn't work.

Anyway, I was out on Tuesday thinking about my Father-Mother (God).  After the baby whale, a family of one baby whale and two or three adults  swam not too far away from me.  They come up to breathe and then go down for 10 to 20 minutes (not so long with a baby whale).  I waited for them to come back up then paddled closer.  They started to come to me, 50 to 25 meters. One adult surfaced with his head up and spied me. THEN, in a few minutes, the whale breached about 10 meters from me.  Very close! As close as it could be and be safe.  I think it looked at me and then knew where to jump.  It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, thank you Father.

After that I did errands for my mother and two hours later I got home. when I got home I realized that I had left my paddle board at the pier.  Maybe I was still too excited. It takes 10 minutes to get from our house to the pier. At first I thought, "Oh no! I hope it is still there." My paddle board cost about $1300 and my friend's board had been taken from the pier a week before. Then I thought.  "No Father (God) is taking care of this. All people are his children and he created them loving and honest. My paddle board is still there." I did not worry at all as I drove down the hill. Of course the paddle board was there.

I was too excited to take photos.

Whale spying                                                     I was closer