I enjoy being pampered. It does not happen often. In these rare moments, it feels like I am on a blissful retreat from the world. There is no evil. Life has sorted itself out in a way that everyone wins. We know we are going to be ok. Usually I wake up at that moment to discover that nothing has changed.
A recent news article has reminded me that I have not been to the fish spa in awhile. The idea of going to a spa and sticky your feet in a small pool (thinking kids wading pool from Wall Mart) filled with fish may not be everyone’s idea of a blissful moment. Having had the experience, it is wonderful! Small fish nibble on your skin, cleaning and scrubbing. It does tickle a bit. Occasionally the nibbles seem more like a nip, but that is the exception rather than the rule.
It is time to book an appointment! I am already imaging the quiet atmosphere, gentle music, and perfect ambience to let the fish do their thing. I know it will not last long, usually just 15 or 30 minutes, but it will be a blissful moment to escape from the daily chaos. The contrast is stark. On one hand I can choose to let tiny fish clean and restore. Just before and after, I am in the real world. Big fish “are after me, nipping my heels, determined to bring me down,” (Psalm 17.11)
Being nipped is rarely a choice. Adversaries are alive and real in this world, many of my own creation. As fast as I can run, they are still nearby, ready to strike at any time. I cannot seem to find a safe place. There are no guaranteed spa experiences.
For now, in the quietness of the morning I shut my eyes and imagine a different kind of world. It is a place where everything changes. I can hear to call to be part of restoration. It is an invitation that demands one’s best. It is an opportunity to make a difference.
