Kneeling in the Rain

I found myself kneeling with my back toward rain blowing sideways. Thankfully I brought along my fleece jacket and my GoreTex North Face waterproof jacket. For an August night on the Alabama Gulf Coast it was chilly and wet. Very wet.

As so often happens when we are waiting for sea turtle hatchlings to make a break for the Gulf of Mexico, they waited until it was late. And of course, the storm. For some reason they just love making their way to their new home in the sea in a driving rain.

They were making their flippered march to the water when a few decided the porch lights of a beach home was their destination and their determination was epic. We try not to handle them at all but body-blocking the lights, blocking their way with our hands, pleading…nothing worked. And even when we gently picked them up and pointed them toward the sea, they would have nothing of it.

I had crawled along beside the final turtle babe and pleaded, “Please crawl toward the Gulf.” I didn’t think it was possible but rain was blowing through my moisture-wicking, hiking pants and with my rear facing the fierce wind…let’s just say I didn’t know rain could do that.

Finally….finally we neared the water. But no….my friend decided to turn around….AGAIN! Then….BAM!!! Lightning and I said….’THAT’S IT KIDDO! GO!” and pointed toward the warm, salty wave.

In a flash the baby loggerhead was  beneath the inviting water and I waved goodbye as she joined 105 of her siblings. I high-tailed it for my car.

I had hoped to be able to simply stand as a guardian and sing to them as they flapped their tiny flippers on the sand, heading south but that was not to be. I not only kneeled but crawled in the wet sand and at one point laid belly to sand to block light. Beneath a sky heavy with rain and feeling the wind whip water around me, I realized there was no place I’d rather be. Prayerfully, lovingly and with compassion I joined our team as we witnessed the Earth release Her children to the sea.

Happy trails kiddos!