A Whale’s Tale
Recently I was taking a much needed coffee break when I came across a beautiful video that brought me to tears.
A marine biologist (named Nan) was doing whale research in the South Pacific Ocean and had got into the water to film two humpback whales that were nearby.
Although she had been swimming with whales for over 30 years, she knew to keep her distance as it is their ‘back yard’.
Suddenly the larger whale pulled her under his fin, escorting her along with him.
Surprised by this unexpected free ride, Nan knew in the back of her mind the whale was trying to tell her something.
But the sharp barnacles under his fin were starting to cut into her torso and she wriggled to try and get free.
In that brief moment Nan turned around and saw, behind the second whale, a third beast in the water, however this one’s fins were shaped differently and Nan realised it was a huge tiger shark! At this point she realised the whale’s true intentions and that he was trying to save her!
Not willing to desert her for one moment, the whale scooped her up and placed her on his huge head.
The journey to safety took ten minutes and the whale knew exactly where Nan’s boat was where he delivered her with absolutely no charge.
As his smooth and majestic body turned over in the glistening water and swam away, Nan cried out ‘thank you – I love you!’
Once she had got over the shock and emotions, Nan thought back to a friend’s research on whales that showed that whales display altruistic character traits, not only to their own kind but to other animals too.
As we know, altruism is doing a pure act of kindness without expecting any thanks or reward.
This whale saved Nan’s life without seeking fame (although this story is famous now!), fortune or celebrity status, social media ‘likes’, not even a ‘yeshar koyach’ from his whale community. It was a most pure act of chessed, kindness from one living being to another.
This got me thinking, we all try to live by Torah values and standards…when given a new opportunity of doing a mitzvah, do we always agree to do/perform this mitzvah simply ‘lishma’ (for it’s own sake)? Or, just sometimes, do we think in the back of our minds, yes I will do such and such because maybe Hashem will, in turn, reward me with ‘that thing’ that I need or want…
Our physical bodies may not be as big as a whale but our neshama, our unique G-dly soul within, has infinite potential for personal growth and transformation. When we overcome our egos and become selfless we can achieve spiritual depths deeper than all the oceans…
In a heart-warming ending to the story, two months after the life-saving incident, Nan got a call from a fishing boat in a harbour near to her station to say ‘Come over, your friend is here to say hello!’
Nan knew it was him from two distinctive marks he had on his tail fin. She couldn’t believe he’d come to check up on her! She got into the water and thought, how do you hug such a big animal?! She just lay on his back, stroking him and crying ‘thank you forever!’.
Whilst we all may be facing difficulties, challenges and pain in one way or another, we can always look out for things that lift and inspire us to use each and every moment of our lives in the very best positive way we can.
What a lovely story, and one that show many creatures, other than humankind, have the capacity for understanding the fragility of life. There are many account from ancient literature of dolphins saving distressed swimmers, and perhaps this demonstrates chessed is not unique to humans.
Dear Anna,
Thank you for the story and your inspiring comments.
Hugs ❤ Ninette.
What a beautiful story and lovely comments thank you for sharing Anna x
Jodie