Monday, November 19, 2012

The Dolphins Under the Bridge


A few days ago, while visiting on the phone with a friend, we started talking about family, not our tribe, but the one we were born into, the one that all too often drives us nuts. You know the one. I guess with Thanksgiving approaching, it entered our minds as she was dealing with a self-inflicted invitation to the Family Fun House. We both like to think we are at least on the path to possible enlightenment and have found a way to move through these events unscathed. Then I reminded her of what Ram Dass says about that: "If you think you're enlightened, go spend a week with your family." She responded with a recent talk she'd watched by Joel Osteen (there's room for everybody at this table) who alluded to Noah's time on the ark, surrounded by nothing but family for days on end. No wonder his sons found him drunk with his clothes falling off. Given the extended family time, I told her I probably would have taken my chances in the water, flood or no flood, then she added, "...and pray for dolphins."

Dolphins have come to the rescue of humans more than once, not for me personally, but I've read of these rescues and I'm always taken with how compassionate and loving they seem to be, completely without judgment and open to us in ways that simply amaze me. Their behavior seems far superior to many humans.




My favorite dolphin story of all time is found in a documentary titled, "The Bridge." If you haven't seen it, I hope you will. It's a tough one to watch at times; the subject is not a happy one, but an important one, nonetheless. For a year, a film crew set up cameras near the Golden Gate Bridge, just to watch and record those who came to walk it, and, ultimately, those who came to end their lives there. Their job was not to interfere, it was to record the movement on the bridge. The story that unfolded was the story that unfolded.

We watch as their cameras find a variety of people, both young and old, who have lost their ability to make sense of life, who have come to end their personal nightmare.  And, we watch as some of them climb up and over, and drop to the water below. Some climb up on the railing, stand there for a few seconds and then fall backwards into eternity. Some hesitate and a person arrives just in time to prevent them from doing so. One young girl was literally pulled back from the edge, held onto by her rescuer as they waited for help to arrive, then taken away, along with her choice in that moment. We listen as family and friends talk, trying to make sense of it all, what and where it all went wrong for the person they loved so much. These are the stories of helplessness.




But, one of those stories was told by a survivor. He described how, after he had leaped, on his way down to the water, he felt remorse for his choice, and realized he wanted to live. More than anything. Not long after hitting the water and being pulled down into it, he found himself being raised up by a force he could not see. Something was working to bring him up to the surface until his head emerged above the water. What came to his rescue, what buoyed him to the surface? Dolphins. Dolphins came and formed a circle beneath him. They continued swimming in a circle, which created a buoyant force, and then swam him to the surface, holding him there, within their circle, until help arrived. It's a story about love, it's a story of how the universe works when we fully open ourselves to it, and it's a story I hope I never forget.












18 comments:

  1. My brother-in-law spent his work life on the bridge as an iron worker and talked a number of people attempting suicide. Dolphins are spiritual in ways we seldom achieve. Beautiful post my friend. You are a unique talent ...

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    1. Yes, dolphins are amazingly spiritual creatures. Thank you so much, Cletis.

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  2. You mention the bridge film and the nice story about the dolphins saving the man. Dolphins though are hunted down in cruel ways as witnessed in the film "The Cove" made in 2010. One Christmas an old friend sent me a photo in her holiday card of her riding a dolphin at some aquarium. I felt it was cruel to put the dolphin through this. My feelings are let the wild be wild -- as they were in your story, The Bridge. Wishing you a relaxing Thanksgiving. -- barbara

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    1. Hi Barbara, I am very aware of those stories and the killing going on in the Gulf, also. I wanted to think about and write about the beauty of their existence.

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  3. I'd never heard this particular story before but have heard of similar stories. By any chance, did you see "60 Minutes" last night, the story about the babies and the question of whether or not we are born good, evil, or with a blank slate? Evidently, babies choose puppets perceived to be good over the not so good ones, but also choose sameness over difference. The thing with dolphins is it seems they do not allow differences to get in their way as we humans do, and to my mind this would make them superior to we humans.

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    1. I did not see the 60 Minutes, but I recently read or saw something about this. it seems an absurd question. We are born good, that is our true nature. IMO

      Great observation about the dolphins. Thanks, Rubye Jack.

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  4. Why is it animals don't discriminate like humans do? our cats love us no matter what, they are sweet and loving.Dogs run in packs and love who tends to them too..Humans are not kind and loving, the holidays upon us we shum from the so called families we were born into, too much greed, and criticism and backbiting.I hate it and won't participate, one brother we helped for almost 10 years went nuts over a woman who spurned him, he went nuts, we don't speak to him anymore at all over it, I mean really a woman, not even his own brother & myself were the only ones who gave a crap, now we don't even call him, over a woman no less. We are not into bullshit like that, we spend times with strangers who are our family friends we selected years ago and to tell the truth are happier with them, they seem to express almost the same feelings, families are not what they used to be and I think they never were, holidays are everyday if you are a peaceful loving human being, animals can show humans how to love a lot! just my opinion..we skip all the fa la la of christmas and turkey day..we enjoy our friends all the time and each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. It seems to me an almost ludicrous thing to do, have these holidays which take our money and create so much sadness for so many. Every day should be a celebration of life with friends and true family.

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  5. Thank you for telling this amazing story about the dolphins, Teresa. Last year I heard a story about a young man who was saved from sharks by dolphins. I sometimes think about how we have treated those wonderful animals. There is much research now about how animals might be thinking and some of the research show some amazing results. Maybe one day we will be ashamed of how brutal we have behaved to animals like the dolphins and the whales.

    Your post about the dolphins is so beautiful. And I love the photos.

    Grethe ´)

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    1. I, too, read that story. Life is amazing when humans get their egocentric selves out of the way and let Love happen. Dolphins are just one of the creatures who do Life better than we do. IMO.

      Those photos so lifted my spirit. Beautiful beings. So good to hear from you, Grethe.

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  6. As happens often when I read one of your posts, I am in tears. This one is tears of happiness as I picture that tribe of dolphins saving that man's life. As much as I would like to watch this documentary, I'm not sure I can, at least in the dark days of winter. Maybe in springtime when the leaves are budding out and my heart is full of the promise of summer. Thank you for this, Teresa. I am blessed by "knowing" you.

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    1. It's a story that should not leave one dry-eyed. I'm glad you're here and we're sharing this morning together.

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  7. Oh, Teresa, I'm catching up on your posts this morning, all meaningful in so many ways, thoughtful, insightful. I decided to stop here in the middle and thank you for each one, and for this particular post, which seems to sum them all up to me. As you say above, we should not be dry-eyed (and I'm not). Thank you.

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    1. Penny, I can't tell you how glad I am that you see the connection between these posts.

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  8. Animals and mammals never cease to amaze me. Why is it so hard for people to believe that a group of animals would circle a hurt human and try to help it. Whether it be intelligence or instinct, it's always an amazing thing to us that an animal would do something so altruistic.
    Maybe some folks feels or expects animals to be on a lower level than man because of something that was written in the bible or because they seem to have no language. But, I think that they have a more basic intelligence and therefore are more likely to work together and accomplish something like this.
    Man does it too, once in a while, but there is always a tinge of "look at me, I'm doing something extraordinary." Maybe animals lack an EGO or the expectation of praise. Maybe this is the difference.
    I will find "THE BRIDGE" and read it.

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    1. It would be quite wonderful to live in a world where these altruistic acts by animals is seen to be the norm and we are astonished when humans act less so. It is the ego that we must tame, and the hour is passing.

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  9. I have spent holidays alone (and then with Karma) for the past 13 years since I moved up to Fargo-Moorhead. Stress free, quiet, peaceful and calm. Dagan and Leah and I have our own Thanksgiving and Christmas after the fact--perfect. :)

    The movie is now in my Netflix queue.
    I saw The Cove and it broke my heart. I don't know what else to say. Humans can leave me speechless. How can anyone believe animals have no souls...

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    1. I spent several alone while living in Santa Fe and found them very peaceful, but am glad for my boys presence yesterday. It was fun. But I could go it alone again and it wouldn't bother me a bit.... Others are not so fortunate....

      I hope the film speaks to you as it did to me.

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