Little Jellies

"Jellyfish are known for drifting to and fro at the whim of ocean currents—but not all species are so passive. The millions of golden jellyfish that pack Palau’s Jellyfish Lake spend much of their lives on the move during a daily migration that follows the sun’s arc across the sky.

Before sunrise, the jellies cluster along the saltwater lake’s western shore. Each morning around 6, when dawn brightens the eastern sky, they begin to swim toward the light. Pumping water through their bells, these jellyfish use a type of jet propulsion to follow the sunlight until they nearly reach the eastern shore—stopping just short of the shadows caused by lakeside trees.

Sunlight is plentiful on this remote Pacific island, which is a good thing because golden jellyfish don’t just enjoy basking in the sun—they need its light to survive. Solar rays nourish essential, algae-like organisms called zooxanthellae, which live symbiotically in the jellies’ tissues and provide their hosts with energy as a byproduct of their photosynthesis.
Golden jellyfish rest relatively contentedly in place at midday when the tropical sun remains high overhead. But each afternoon, as the sun continues its slow crawl toward the western horizon, the jellies reverse course and return to the western shore to await the dawning of a new day.
This remarkable migration pattern has a crucial consequence: The jellyfish avoid the shaded lakeshore areas where their primary predators, anemones, live.

The daily migration also benefits the lake, which once had an outlet to the sea but has been long since become isolated. As the gelatinous hordes swim back and forth across the lake they mix its waters—and churn the nutrients and small organisms that form the base of the food chain." - Golden Jellyfish. National Geographic. 1 March 2011

I found this article entirely on accident and was immediately enthralled. I like to think of these little Jellies in terms of us and our relationship with the light of truth and Jesus Christ. There are many parallels and even more that I have yet to see, but below are a few that I wanted to share.

There are many Jellyfish who simply drift; there are also many people who simply dri

ft. Without something to follow we tend to drift, or to go in a direction that we choose ourselves. The problem with choosing paths without a guiding influence is that we have a limited perspective as to where that road will eventually leave. It would require experience to learn where the predators lurk.

Back to the Golden Jellies...

I love that they gather together and follow the light all day. It is a beautiful thought, that there are beings that unfailingly follow the light. Some may say, "Yes, but they need that light to survive." Don't we need light to survive as well? Don't our Spirits fail without the

constant nurturing from the light of Christ? Don't we become weak and spiritually malnourished when we are "too tired", "too busy", or perhaps "too smart" to seek truth?

Truth in its purest form can keep us from the dark depths of doubt and the predators that prowl in the shadows. If we are not only aware of the light, but we make an effort to follow it, then it will be given the time to make a long term difference in our lives. It isn't easy to swim all day, every day, but the little jellies do it. Can we not be that diligent in our own spiritual lives?

I also think that it is fascinating that the current they create benefits the entire lake; similarly to how those who maintain their moral values and strive to follow truth are a enlivening influence to their own environment. They change their environment for the better because of the direction they chose to move in. Do we see that effect in our lives? Do we really understand that we can change our world for the better if we move in a good direction?

As we absorb truth, it becomes a part of us and provides the support we need to become better. Just like the "Solar rays nourish essential, algae-like organisms called zooxanthellae...[which] provide their hosts with energy as a byproduct of their photosynthesis" the light will nourish our spirits and give our souls the energy to continue in the light. The Lord will support us with His spirit, but we first need to qualify by demonstrating our desire to follow His counsel.

Truly, there are parallels to the truth of the Gospel everywhere we look, if we are looking for the right things. Sometimes its hard to continue following the light; it takes work every day, but the little Jellies do it and I believe that we can too.