In the Fish Tank

Life gets pretty interesting at times. Take a fish tank, for instance. You can see everything that goes on in the tank. It is all open for the world to see. As Christians, we are living in a "fish tank," so to speak. Allow me to explain further.

Have you ever sat and observed the goings on in a fish tank or aquarium? It is amazing and so true to life. One thing I discovered about a fish tank is that fish are bullies, too. I was so amazed when I saw a bigger fish chasing a smaller fish and being mean to it. (For our illustrative purposes here today, let's call the smaller fish, "Little Fish" and let's call the bigger fish, "Big Fish.")  You might ask, "How can a fish be mean to another fish? Well, what would you call it when you see a big fish swim up to a smaller fish and the smaller fish take off swimming fast to the other side of the aquarium? But wait, I am not finished, yet. Then Big Fish takes off after him and backs him into a corner of the aquarium. Then Big Fish lunges at Little Fish and in his attempt to get away, Little Fish leaps up with enough force to break the surface of the top aquarium water and falls back in still on the run. Then you see Little Fish hide in an underwater castle that the aquarium owner had put in for decoration. Little Fish can exist peacefully as long as he stays in the underwater castle. But trouble erupts again when it is feeding time. Big Fish gobbles up most of the food, himself, although he does allow the other smaller fish to eat a little, too. But, he tries to keep  Little Fish from eating anything at all. But, apparently driven by hunger, Little Fish makes a swimming dart up to the surface for a piece of food. He gets the food but is rammed into by the Big Fish. Little Fishish hightails it back to the castle to discover that another fish has taken up residence. What is Little Fish going to do now?

We could go on and on with the skirmishes between Big Fish and Little Fish, but there is no need as I have made my point about bullies.

The Aquarium Owner

The aquarium owner has seen this little scene play out and decides to intervene. He goes to the pet supply place and picks up an aquarium divider or a separate compartment made to fit down in the aquarium to keep smaller fish from being eater by bigger ones. You have seen the dividers like that, I'm sure.

So what does the owner do? He scoops up Little Fish and allows him to swim, eat,  and frolic in safety without fear of aggression from Big Fish.

I have also seen water plants placed in aquariums for the two-fold purpose of an added source of nourishment and as a place where smaller fish could take refuge from bigger fish.

In Conclusion

When you feel like Little Fish felt in the aquarium, don't despair. The Aquarium Owner is watching your every move. He will place hedges around you for your protection just like Little Fish's owner did for him. And you keep doing and saying the things that a faithful, "fish" should say and do as you remember that God is watching and He sees you remembering that you are an epistle read of men.

Doing What I Can, While I Can Because I Care,

Alma L. Stepping On Carr-Jones