I have been a certified scuba diver since I was 15 years old. My parents were also divers, and we often found occasions to be in the ocean. As a result, I came to love the underwater world. The coral reefs and kelp forests of the Pacific had such bright colors. There were hundreds of different kinds of beautiful fish, and you could sometimes hear the little crackling sound they made when they ate the coral. It was like visiting another planet.
Not all of the elements of scuba diving are immediately wonderful, though. On the surface of the water, there is a lot of movement and awkward activity. The boat moves up and down with the waves, and as you try to get into the water, you realize how challenging it is. You have a lot of heavy equipment on and large fins attached to your feet. It is easiest to get off the boat by falling backwards into the water, which means you can’t see where you are going. When you first enter the water, you bob on the surface. You can’t always catch a breath because of the waves, and you can’t see clearly through your mask. It can feel a little scary. The way to resolve all this is to stop trying to make things work on the surface, and instead let yourself drop below. Once you get your equipment settled and you allow yourself to slip below the surface, you enter a quiet world. All of your scuba gear is no longer awkward but is exactly what you need. The water is all around you – above you, below you, next to you on all sides. And as you descend, there is more and more beauty around you. After some experience with scuba diving (once I got past the initial mix of fear and excitement), I found that I really loved the quiet of being underwater. The loudest sound is that of your own breathing. There is a gentle hiss as you breathe in the compressed air in the tank, and then the gentle gurgle of air bubbles heading for the surface as you breathe out. You are completely surrounded – and supported – by the water. It is incredibly peaceful.
In many ways, this is what contemplative practices can be like here on dry land. At first, sitting down to meditate or have a quiet moment can seem awkward and uncomfortable. It can take a bit of getting used to. Your mind takes you to a thousand other places filled with grocery lists and remembered conversations. It is hard to slow down. But, as with scuba diving, letting go of trying so hard and instead giving yourself over to the experience can help. Focusing on your breathing – in and out, in and out – helps to calm the body and open you to a sense of peacefulness. I find it helpful to imagine myself slipping under the surface of life (deeper into the ocean) into the surrounding presence of Spirit. God is the water all around, supporting me. Only the sound of my breath enters the quiet. And in my mind’s eye, I can see great beauty.
In this way, I can experience a glimpse of the transcendent wonder of God. God is always here, all around, as a supportive, peaceful, beautiful presence. There is no place where God is not. I can relax and enjoy being in the complete presence of God.