CowPi Journal

The Little Fish

6 February 2004, 7 am | Koan

“Excuse me,” said an ocean fish. “You are older than I, so can you tell me where to find this thing they call the ocean?”

“The ocean,” said the older fish, “is the thing you are in now.”

“Oh, this? But this is water. What I’m seeking is the ocean,” said the disappointed fish as he swam away to search elsewhere.

Please form your own impression from this story before reading further.

Anthony de Mellow’s comment—Stop searching little fish. There isn’t anything to look for. All you have to do is look.

My first response—This story reminded me of a quote by Albert Einstein, do you see everything in the world as a miracle, or nothing as a miracle? Do you take the everyday things around you and label them “ordinary”? Or do realize that everything is a gift from God and that they are “extraordinary” when compared to the coldness of chemistry, molecules, and the emptiness of outer space?

My second response—Brian, a religion teacher, had a student ask why there are no more big and spectacular miracles like the ones you read in the Bible. His reply was, look at that tree, listen to the birds sing, look at a sunset. The student did not like that reply. He continued with, how about the drug addict who turns his life around? How about the healing that occurs when someone spends time and listens to the pain and troubles of a friend? How about the laughter between people at lunch? The giggle of a baby? Two people falling in love and getting married? Understanding the quadratic formula? Miracles are all around us if we just open our eyes and look.

My third response—A simile: God is to creation as the singer is to the song.

Please feel free to add your impressions.