Some man-made things are causing real trouble and tragedy for some of the ocean’s residents: many become entangled in nets, fishing lines, plastic bags and plastic holders from six-pack cans of beverages. These often result in painful and sometimes long-delayed deaths.
What is happening? Along comes a whale, porpoise or seal, and, not seeing a fishing net, swims into it and soon finds it wrapped around its body. The more it struggles the more it is bound up and cannot swim to the surface for needed air, with the result that it drowns.
Someone in a boat throws a plastic bag overboard with a few scraps of food in it. It disappears below the surface. If it is a large bag, a seal, interested in the food, might thrust its head into it and not be able to pull back out. Or, if it is a small bag, a seal or porpoise might think it a jellyfish or something else good to eat and swallow it, and it sticks in its throat. In either case the victim is almost sure to die.
At other times one of these ocean swimmers will get its head clear through a plastic holder, but can still swim to the surface, where it will discover it cannot get rid of what has become a tight collar around its neck. Climbing on a rock or lying on the sand it too eventually dies.
When God placed man upon the earth, He made him responsible over the rest of His creatures, including the fish of the sea. Sadly, sinful man is often careless or cruel to God’s creatures. But there is good news. There are kind people who spend a great deal of time freeing such victims. One group is called the Whale Hotline. They travel by boat to a captured whale, dolphin or seal on the ocean surface, gently approaching it and freeing it after hours of hard work. On other occasions it may just be one or two men who feel sorry for a trapped creature and do this job.
At other times a sea lion or porpoise will be found ashore with a band of plastic around its throat so that it cannot eat. Kindhearted individuals, with guns that do not kill but sedate (put to sleep) the animals, gently cut the collar away. Waking up, the animal is free from its trap.
Let us look to God who alone can save us from the evil nets and snares of the devil.
ML-07/28/1991