Dancing Fish

On Sunday I went to Whidbey Island to see my friend’s pottery at the Dancing Fish Vineyards. Each step to get there felt huge. Every step was filled with self doubt. Maybe it would have been better to go on a hike. Maybe it would have been better to invite a friend. On and on it went. I even pulled over right before getting on the ferry to look for hikes nearby. But, the internet was too spotty, so I took it as a sign to keep going.

When I drove onto the ferry, I saw some people looking out at the water, so I got out of my car and looked, too. I had to look a few times to confirm what I was seeing. There were fish jumping out of the water! Maybe you have seen them, too. Little bodies flinging with abandon. There may be a reason they are so persistent with their jumping, but in my mind they just looked playful. It brought tears to my eyes.

It made me think that we are made of the same substance as the fish. We have the same energy, the same essence, the same love. The fish were not ashamed of their passionate jumping. They didn’t care what they looked like. They didn’t worry if it was right to jump or not. They did what they were created to do. They were who they were created to be. It was impossible for them to hide. And if it’s true for them, how much truer it is for us.

I felt open to them and to their invitation to not be hidden.

When we feel an invitation, the work has already begun inside of us, leading us there. The desire is given, therefore, the means to get there is given as well.

As I was getting ready to get back into my car, one fish did an especially high and long jump. How vulnerable to be so visible. So unabashedly who you are. I went back to my car with a smile. The fish were waiting for me all along.