The Whale Is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want
Few humans think of the oceans of the world as being very much like our lands. But in fact the oceans are very much like land. They are made up of ocean pastures where the grass is plankton and where the flocks are fish and other marine life. Ocean pastures even have shepherds whose lives and every action are tied to those pastures.
All of the creatures that inhabit the oceans are not there merely to feed and to be fed upon. They all have a vital job to do. In order that they may receive their share of bounty from their ocean pastures they must give back to it. In doing so they are shepherds of their pastures.
I know this to be true as I work on land and sea to do what I can to help in harmony and partnership with Nature to be a caring steward and shepherd of ocean pastures.
I like to think that ocean life has a special prayer that helps guide them.
The Whale is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He helps me to swim down in green pastures;
he leadeth me through the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of caring
ocean stewardship for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I swim through the waters of shadow and death,
I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy fluke and
thy fin they comfort me.
Thou preparest a feast before me in the presence of those
who might feast with me; thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the world of the Whale for ever.
Read more about the biology and role of whales as shepherds of their ocean pastures and flocks here.
Or read this story to your children about this whale and a miracle.
Don’t wait on doing the good things that you might wish the Almighty might do.