Jellyfish Surprise
I’m writing about jellyfish again because they’re a part of life. It’s like what Forrest Gump said: “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” Come for fun in the sun and get an unexpected jellyfish.
I used to say: “Life is like a bowl of cherries; there’s a pit in every single one.” Or… an unexpected jellyfish.
Life can be the pits even in the sunshine. You can get stung by a jellyfish—even on vacation.
Now, none of us were stung. But we’ve seen jellyfish three times.
The first time, a guy from Georgia had one in his net. Then he thought it wise to dip his net over the open water so that his little daughter could receive the jellyfish into her net.
“Don’t drop it,” he told her.
(I moved further away into the oncoming current.)
I saw one in the water after that. I wasn’t sure if I had the memory to recognize it had I not seen one the day before. I went to get a sand bucket and a shovel with holes to filter water out on the beach, then headed back into the waves. Maybe I could be like that cool guy from Georgia and save somebody from getting stung?
Nah. Couldn’t find it again.
Then, when all the kids and I were out in the Gulf waters—and Vinnie, with that rubber covering over his leg protecting the prosthetic—we saw the biggest one. Eight to ten inches of tendrils hanging down, just itching to touch human flesh.
We left the water. Those around us heard us say, “Jellyfish.”
But they were more robust than us.
What’s it like being stung by a smaller jellyfish? I’m told it’s not as bad as a bee sting—but it doesn’t stop hurting.
Which is worse: a stingray or a jellyfish?
The stingray. It'll hurt you for two weeks.
So if Paul was here enjoying some sun… you do know he was shipwrecked on an island, don’cha?
Yeah—and while throwing firewood into the fire on the beach, a poisonous snake fastened itself onto his hand.
He shook it into the flames and went about his business.
The natives of the island saw and said he must have been a murderer. But when he didn’t die, they changed their tune, didn’t they?
Paul would’ve written something a bit different today, had he been alive. He probably would’ve seen the Discovery Channel or National Geographic. Maybe watched sea life in some new convert’s living room. So if Paul were alive today, he might have written something like this:
2 Corinthians 11:22–31 (NLT)
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. [23] Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. [24] Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea (surrounded by sharks and JELLYFISH).
[26] I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. [27] I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. [28] Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. [29] Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? [30] If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. [31] God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. (Even about those giant jellyfish I saw that one time.)
See where I used bold font to add stuff? Paul didn’t write that.
But he could have had he been born today in our modern world.
This is the part where some people will say,
“You shouldn’t add to the Bible!”
But these are the same people who don’t say a thing about me imagining the Apostle Paul in today’s world. Both are fictional. Both are parables, really—leading to a point.
And the point is this:
Even in the best of times, there are Jellyfish Surprises.
Even in the best of times, life is like a box of chocolates.
Even in the best of times—when the cherries are sparkling—there’s still a pit in every… single… one.
You can’t have good without bad.
Sunshine without rain.
Heaven without Hell.
Jesus without Satan.
Or white-sand beaches without jellyfish.
The trick is knowing the Way. Like Paul knew the Way:
John 14:4–6 (NLT)
“And you know the way to where I am going.”
[5] “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
[6] Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Acts 2:21 NLT
But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'
Can Jesus be the Way to save you from the jellyfish of life? Maybe… maybe not.
But He wasn’t sent to save people from jellyfish—He came to save you from the road you’re on… the Road to Hell.
Call upon the Name of Jesus today. You’ll be eternally grateful you did.