Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2006-07 Winter Issue -- Top Ten: Wisdom Down Under

The land down under holds great adventure for those who take the plunge. What fun my wife and I had in Australia last summer; surfing, horse-back-riding, kayaking, hiking, gazing at great art and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We even saw Steve Irwin in one of his last live performances.

The test of a great adventure is not just in the fun, but also in the wisdom one gains. Here are the "top-ten" lessons I surmised from our scuba adventures:

1. Awe is in order. The GBR offers a whole new perspective on the wonders of God’s creation. The shapes, colors and pace of life down under (I mean really down under) are marvelously different. Ours was an awesome experience, but not one to drink in, literally.

: Proverbial Wisdom: It was God, possessing all Wisdom, who “gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.” (Proverbs 8:29). How awesome!

2. Pay attention! You can be in awe and be alert at the same time. In fact, under water, alertness is a must! Back on the earth’s surface, it also pays to pay attention. Life is healthier and happier for us and others when we remain alert, sober and clear-minded.

: Proverbial Wisdom: “Pay attention and gain understanding.” (Proverbs 4:1).

3. Always go with a buddy. The first rule in Scuba diving is: never go alone. In a recent dive, I ran out of air early and my buddies came up with me. They could have stayed down longer but for all the joys of the deep, people and safety still come first. So, under water or above, we all need a buddy or two. We can’t make it all alone.

: Proverbial Wisdom: “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24). “Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.” (Proverbs 29:10).

4. Respect your limits and boundaries. If you go too deep for too long, you pay! When I was certified in 1973, we had to learn our scuba “tables” the old fashioned way. Today, we have little computers that keep track of one’s depth, timing and pressure figures. Either way, there are limits for how deep you can go and for how long. Knowing your limits adds to your freedom and enjoyment. Ignore those boundaries and there may be no tomorrow.

: Proverbial Wisdom: It’s not enough to just live in the moment and follow your heart. Nor can you “follow your own reality,” so to speak. “He who trusts his own heart is a fool.” (Proverbs 28:26). Actual reality comes with external limits and obstacles we cannot disrespect or dismiss.

5. Listen to your wife! The visibility at the GBR was awesome. But without my glasses, I could not fully appreciate the distant details. Before our trip, my wife advised me to get some prescription goggles to enhance visual clarity. I procrastinated.

: Proverbial Wisdom: “An excellent wife, who can find?” (Proverbs 31:10). I’ll raise my hand.

6. Learn to go deep. There are beauties and curiosities that call us to go below the surface sometimes. But curiosity can kill the cat. First, you must be trained. You must listen and learn; then dive for the depths. And your scuba learning manual is a very good friend.

: Proverbial Wisdom: “Apply your heart to discipline, and your ears to words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 23:12).

7. Live and let live. I saw a shark, just my size, and chose not to pick on it as it scavenged the ocean floor. I thought it was a leopard shark but further study convinced me it was of the harmless Wobbegong variety (no, there are none of these in Minnesota).

: Proverbial Wisdom: “It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” (Proverbs 20:3).

8. "Look, but don’t touch." One scuba dives not to change the world, but to be impressed by it. The temptation to touch at the GBR should be resisted. If it doesn't harm your fragile skin, it can harm the fragile environment (or both). Sometimes, it is worth it to let the world impress you, rather than always trying to impress the world.

: Proverbial Wisdom: “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.” (Proverbs 23:26, NASB).

9. Communication is vital. Scuba divers use sign language to communicate. On the surface, however, we can draw from the breath of life to communicate with words. The gift of language is a well-honed gift from our forebears. We should never take it for granted.

: Proverbial Wisdom: “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters.”
(Proverbs 18:4).

10. You have not yet seen it all, and you probably never will. But keep looking! Life is an ongoing adventure in discovery!

: Proverbial Wisdom: “The discerning heart seeks knowledge.”
(Proverbs 15:14).

Joel Mark Solliday, B.A., M.Div., is the editor of Campus CrossWalk and the pulpit minister of the Northern Light Church of Christ in Minnesota. He has become a world traveler since his marriage to Katie who wants to touch all seven continents before she meets St. Peter.