What They See

            It was a gloomy spring morning on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The sea reflected only grayness as I stepped aboard the fishing boat. The engines began to rumble as the vessel chugged its way out of the marina. The open-ocean appeared to be a vast expanse of desolate and lifeless waters. As I stood on the deck wobbling to keep my balance, I heard the captain yell, "There are dolphins swimming in front of the boat if anyone wants to see!" I made my way to the front along with several other passengers and we all peeked our heads down at the water. Sure enough, there were five dolphins gracefully riding the waves created by the boat. I noticed that a ray of sunlight had managed to break through the clouds causing the ocean to reflect the light in beautiful shades of green and blue. Suddenly, dolphins began to appear from the surrounding waters. The ocean exploded with life as a breathtaking amount of dolphins began to emerge from all over in playful jumps and splashes. It was as if an entire community of them had ascended from the ocean depths to perform a flawlessly coordinated show. I was completely mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the spectacle I was witnessing. I can truly say, few other moments in my life have matched the amount of pure happiness which overcame me at that moment. The attraction lasted only a few moments. The dolphins eventually passed us until they where no longer visible.

             I noticed the skies had darkened once more as the tint of gray had returned to the water. I looked down into the water in front of the boat and to my surprise, the five dolphins were still there. As I continued to observe them, a man walked up next to me and spitefully spit at the dolphins. He then let out a tasteless laugh and continued to roam around the boat. The dolphins disbanded moments later and I did not really put much thought into what the man had just done. It was much later in the day when I truly began to think deeply on the overall significance of the man's actions. Such a small and seemingly harmless act revealed to me a disturbing notion. The notion that nature is not appreciated and that it is taken for granted, despite its incomprehensible  splendor and mystery.  As I continued to ponder upon these issues I found myself wondering why dolphins come near people so often. No certain answer came to my mind. Perhaps they see something within human kind that I cannot. Perhaps some uncanny wisdom inside them sees the overall goodness in people. I cannot know this for sure, but I can take a lesson from the dolphin and adapt an optimistic attitude towards life. The dolphin is only one among the countless creatures on this wonderfully diverse planet which have led me to dedicate my strength and mind towards nature, and perhaps someday, to help mend the wounds on this immense yet fragile planet. For now, all I can do is have hope, for it is the only thing the dolphins have.