Strange winds are blowing ...

We live in extraordinary times ... yes, times when strange winds blow, turning our lives upside down ... but for a moment and then everything becomes calm again, as if nothing happened. Only the strong, the experienced survive the strange storms and live to see the normality of life again.

*****

I couldn't wait any longer. I had to take a dip, a dive into the cool waters. Inhale nitrogen and find my mind at peace within tranquil surroundings of colorful corals and marine life. Except for the sounds of my breathing through the regulator and the beeps from my dive computer, everything else was blissful.

The 3 days, 2 nights trip to Tenggol Island, off Dungun, Trengganu, was my first dive trip since December 2007. Surprisingly, I found myself completely calm about venturing into extreme conditions - after all, we are not built to breathe underwater - not naturally at least. It didn't take long to adjust to the very tight wetsuit and carrying a ton on my shoulders and back while making my way to our tiny boat (about 15-20 feet in length).

Yes, diving is somewhat like riding a bicycle - once you know how to do it, it doesn't take long to get back into it and getting the buoyancy right during the first dive at Turtle Point.

The vibrance of the marine life and corals were amazing too - the nudi branch, turtle, the clowns made famous by Nemo, and schools and schools of fishes ...













(photos courtesy of fellow diver Siew Keng, very talented to have captured these amazing shots for a first timer in underwater photography)




... including the strange wind that blew towards the end of our last dive at Tenggol Island's tanjung Gemuk site. As my buddy and I were surfacing after the last dive, I saw the dive master making frantic hand signals for us to come up quickly. When we got to the surface, I was amazed to see two-meter high waves when it was rather calm about 30 minutes before.

We struggled to stay close to the boat as the waves kept pulling us away. Furthermore the rise and fall of the boat made it difficult to stay too close for fear of being knocked out by the bottom of the boat.

After what seemed like ages (but I am sure was just a few moments) of trying to hang on to the steps, I managed to remove my fins and climb into the boat. It was as if the boat was heaving and ho-ing, wanting to spit out its passengers.

At that time, all but one was on board.

As the boatman maneuvered the boat towards the lone diver drifting in the waters, another huge swell swept past, titling our boat 180 degrees. The group leader, still out in the water, at that point saw the bottom of the boat. We thought the boat would capsize!

Within that split second, I found myself thrown from the seat and sprawled along with the air tanks in the middle of the small boat. Thank God I was thrown further into the boat and not out of the boat and into the waters!

Scrambling to get back onto the seat and clutching to the metal railings of the boat, I checked my nerves ... fairly calm considering the ruckus on the boat. Experience told me to keep my floatation devices on, tank and regulator ready to be used ... just in case I got thrown back into the water and needed to descend to calmer waters below.

The moment the dive leader got onboard, we sped back to the island that was nestled within a cove and protected from the strange winds.

Within moments, the skies were clear and the waters were calm again.

*****

"What was that all about?" I asked the Lord.

"We live in strange times. Upheavels come to sift my people. The righteous and just shall live by faith ... Those who call upon my name shall be saved," the Lord impressed in my heart.

We live in such a time as this ... as evidenced by the happenings in the world - times of uncertainty. It's such a time when the experienced draw on their knowledge and skills to navigate the difficult times and come out stronger or survive the difficult circumstances. Others may not be so fortunate - not able to draw from the skilled, experienced and good fortunes of the stronger ones, and come out of these times in a poorer shape. Distraught. Destroyed.

One thing is certain though. There is a "window of opportunity," this is a time of greater manifestation of God's presence with tangile signs and wonders ... from miracle healings to gold dust on hands. God beckons His people to return into a relationship with Him, and for those who do not know Him, to seek with all their heart, mind and soul in order that they encouter God, our Creator and Maker of the Heavens and the Earth.