Crocodile fears

By Rachel Crandell

We had been hiking all day with our guide in Manu National Park in southeast Peru. It was hot. We were almost back to the lodge, and I was looking forward to a cool swim in the long crescent-shaped cocha (oxbow lake).

As we approached the nearest end of the lake, we saw a huge 15-foot crocodile on the bank, basking in the sun. This South American caiman was enormous, and all my dreams of a swim vanished. After taking several photos of him, I mentioned my disappointment about a swim to our guide. He assured me that it would be safe enough to swim near the lodge, because the place where the crocodile was resting was at least half a mile farther down the lake. Perhaps I should have thought better of it. But our guide knew the region well, and I accepted his explanation.

Before this trip to the Amazon, my husband and I had prayed, as we regularly do, to get the clear assurance that our adventure could never take us beyond God's protection. God was everywhere, and we would always be safe in Him, no matter where we were on the map. Because there are many stories of dangers confronted in the Amazon jungle, we wanted to feel secure in God's care before we ever set out.

Then, every morning on our trip, we had taken time to prepare for the day by looking for inspiration in the Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly, and then praying. The assurance this brought—that we were near to God—was kept fresh by this daily exercise. Also, the glories of nature that surrounded us in the rainforest were a reminder that God is the One in charge, creating and maintaining all creation in balance and harmony.

So when we got back to the lodge that day, I put on my bathing suit and dived into the lake. It was gloriously cool, and I swam across to the other side and back. Way before I was ready to get out, another thought came to me. My tire-tread sandals up on the dock were very muddy, and the lake would be an easy place to wash them clean. So I swam to the ladder and climbed up onto the dock. As I picked up my sandals, I was startled to see the crocodile just below the ladder, half submerged and facing me.

I stood there in awe, but not in fear. I realized that since I was no longer in the water, I was not in danger. It also became very clear to me that the simple idea of leaving the water at that moment to wash my sandals had been a message from God. I was sure it was an example of the protection for which we'd prayed that morning. Had I not been attentive to God's guidance, I would have confronted the crocodile in the water at eye level. That could well have been a paralyzing moment, because I knew who could swim faster. But it didn't come to that. It struck me that I never felt afraid—only awe for the magnificent creature, and awe for God's saving message.

Long ago, before my very first trip to the tropics, I woke one morning with this thought: "Because God is always with you, there is no place on earth safer than where you are right now." And that has been my experience during dozens of ventures into the rainforests.

The first verse of one of my favorite hymns begins:

O he who trusts in God's protection
And hopes in Him when fears alarm,
Is sheltered by His loving-kindness,
Delivered by His mighty arm...

Christian Science Hymnal, No. 216

A solid trust in God has helped and protected me and my husband, and has often guided us in helping to protect others. Each instance has given us further proof of His power on earth.

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