Magic of the Sea

By: Kathryn Collins

Magical. Majestic. Jaw-dropping. Breathtaking. These words do not even do justice to the wonders of the Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. As the kayak too off from land into the dark abyss of the Atlantic Ocean, I knew I was in for the ride of my life. We created our own current as we brushed our paddles against the smooth black sea. The paddles performed their own choreographed dance as they tossed from left to right in unison. As we entered the canal, we said goodbye to any light that might lead the way. The watery pathway became so narrow that we could have reached out our limbs to meet the weeping limbs of the trees. The paddles continued to dip under the surface, but this time something was different. Magic appeared within the blanket of ocean that surrounded us.

The water sparkled and glowed as the paddles swirled through what looked like a majestic potion underneath the surface. With each stroke, a trail of fairy dust magic swam into the stream. The enchantment of this supernatural glow captivated all of my attention. After rowing endlessly into what seemed like an everlasting black hole, a glimpse of the moon’s light blushed through the trees. The wet road opened up into a glistening lagoon with endless possibilities. I was surrounded by God’s creation in its most raw form. I looked up at the perfectly placed stars in awe, and I grazed my hand through the water and watched the sparkles illuminate from my fingertips.

While I was rowing through the mysterious water of the Bio Bay, I noticed the appreciation that Puerto Ricans have for their land. They are proud of the beauty placed at their fingertips and they soak it in to the fullest. Living in Norman, Oklahoma, it is sometimes difficult to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around us. The Bio Bay was a wake up call to the miracles and wonders that we sometimes dismiss in our day-to-day lives. Although we do not have a Bio Bay flowing through the middle of campus, we are surrounded by beauty in our geography every day. Whether it is the bright stars in the Oklahoma night sky or the hovering mountains of the Wichita’s, we just need to open our eyes and appreciate the richness and freedom that the world is trying to show us.