Aquarium and Sea World Shows

As Salaamu Alaikum and Greetings of Peace:

Well, I'm all packed and ready to leave for Istanbul tomorrow morning, Insha Allah! My cats are sitting on my suitcases as I write this, Alhamdulillah, breaking my heart! How I will miss them while I'm gone!

I am so grateful to our hosts (more on this later) for inviting us to their wonderful city, and for preparing a great itinerary for us while we're there.

But, before I leave, I'd like to say a little something about the tragic death of Sea World trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who died while working with the whale "Tilikum."

I pray that Allah swt grant peace to the family of Ms. Brancheau in their mourning, and guide them to the Straight Path/Ameen.

No matter where someone stands on the subject of places like Sea World, everyone can acknowledge the horrible situation of the animals in our seas, lakes, ponds, rivers, and so on. Habitat changes, environmental changes, pollution of waters, and hunting, etc., all man-made offenses, have taken a tremendous toll on aqua life.

As a lover of Allah swt's nature, I have enjoyed many a programs on National Geographic where they take people out on boat tours where they can see the whales and dolphins jumping up and swimming in the wild. How I wish I could afford to experience that!

But I did go once to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. While we were there, we went to a dolphin show.

This occurred at a time in my life when I was separated from my husband, and experiencing a lot of depression and sadness.

Let me tell you, when those magestic dolphins jumped up out of the water and did their flips and such, I experienced a JOY that I have not felt since childhood. I was acutely aware of the emotion. I remember how a lump rose to my throat, and "oohs" and "aahs" escaped from my lips in a manner beyond my control. I sat there on that bleacher seat in the Aquarium and tears just streamed down my face.

I am, to this day, painfully aware that I seldom experience true JOY and ECSTACY in my life!

I don't know why. I have much to be grateful for. Allah swt is truly merciful and generous to me, Subhan'Allah.

Perhaps gratitude to Allah swt is a conscious decision! The intention made each day, to appreciate the joy and blessings that come our way.

Even when supposedly "bad" things happen to us, there is still a benefit in it from Allah swt.

Sometimes Allah swt takes things or people out of our lives. At the time, we may not understand the wisdom behind it.

Sometimes He does for us what we can't do for ourselves, Alhamdulillah.

How you will thank Allah swt today? (See you in a few weeks Insha Allah!)