Do Not Swallow

I left the house today at 10:45. The swim was so great yesterday and the conditions are supposed to be the same today, I figure lets do this again. This heat wave isn’t going to last forever.

Passing Doheny, the water looks pretty blissful. The buoy readings were a couple degrees warmer today than they were at this same time yesterday.

I get to the beach parking lot and there is nearly no wind and the water looks smooth. As I walk down the stairs I see a jet ski heading south and as the water around it moves, it looks an odd dark color - almost red. Given that yesterday was totally clean, a full algae bloom doesn’t seem right. Perhaps that jet ski is right over a rock outcropping and the clarity of the water gives that area a darker complexion. Hmm. That doesn’t seem right either.

I walk on to the beach and feel the water. Feels about the same as yesterday. Right now my biggest decision in life seems whether to go north or south. North was just so great yesterday and why should today be any different?

I head out into the water. It’s cool at first. I head north and before long I notice that this water is looking a little dirty. Then not much longer I can’t even see my hands in the water in front of me. This is definitely the thickest red tide situation I have ever swam in.

I’m thinking surely this should clear up soon. I’m also thinking, “DO NOT SWALLOW!” I’m putting in a conscientious effort not to even get the water in my mouth.

Well it may be dirty but it is certainly warm. Every now and then it feels like I enter an ice bath but it quickly passes. Then just as I cross the point, I enter this patch that I swear must have been 80 degrees.

All in all it is pretty darn pleasant. I’m choosing to ignore the dirty water. What dirty water? Not far into Salt Creek, the water does clear a little. I can see my hands and the water around me looks mostly blue but the bottom is either 100 feet deep or maybe I’m in only waist high for all I know. I’m guessing it is somewhere in between.

Ok this is super nice. The sky is clear and the surface here is silky smooth. It is just a delight to be here.

I’m thinking about Jesus out here. I’m pretty sure he is here. As I turn my head west toward the horizon, I see the edge of the water’s surface. I see the crystal liquid inside skin speckled with air bubbles stretching far far out ahead of me. It rolls and folds and turns over onto itself. It’s alive. The sun shines through and breaths life and light into all the water I can see. Yeah I think that’s Jesus. I can feel that light piercing through my skin like the surface of the ocean and lighting up all of my insides. It gives sustenance. It keeps us alive.

I let myself go a little bit further than the bathrooms today. I look out onto the shore for a good landmark that’s a little further but not too far. How about that lifeguard stand below the north end of the golf course. Then maybe I swim just a little farther. Alright, time to turn around and go back.

Now I have the beach in my vision the entire way back. It’s a nice beach and it’s a good meditative focal point if there ever was one. I see the houses, then the lawn and snack shop, then the trail below the Ritz and before you know it I am crossing the lifeguard tower. I’m trying to swim further inshore hoping maybe that is the route that will avoid the mucky water. So far so good.

Then once I get to the houses on the Strand side of the point, it seems that there is just no avoiding this brown mess. Boy it is thick here and boy is it ever warm. It feels almost unnaturally warm. Then bam! COLD! Well if cold means clear, I think I’ll take it. Hmm. Nope. Cold does not mean clear. By the way, I still think Jesus is here. He’s not concerned with the color of the water in the tiniest bit.

I guess it is time to swim in. By the looks of that beach it has Jesus written all over it.

Walking up the stairs I’m not in any huge rush. I can’t stop thinking of that verse, “To those who have, more will be given.” There is a lot to be had here that is for sure.