It seemed as though Opo’s mother had been killed, and because she was so lonely the young dolphin turned to people for companionship. At first she followed boats, loving to have her back scratched with an oar or a broom. Then she began to swim around with people who were swimming at Opononi beach. No one knows for sure who first got the courage to touch the wild dolphin, but after Opo learned that swimmers wouldn’t hurt her, swimming among the folks at the beach became a daily habit.
She learned to enjoy the company of the swimmers, and they enjoyed the antics and games the dolphin would play. One of Opo’s favorite tricks was to find a bottle on the bottom of the ocean, toss it as far and as high as she could with her mouth, then swim “faster than lightening” to catch the falling bottle on her tail. Onlookers would cheer when Opo did such tricks, and she seemed to enjoy the applause.
It was Opo’s special delight to swim among groups of young people. Opo especially enjoyed it when the children of Opononi held their school picnic at the beach. The children all waded out chest deep into the water and formed a circle, holding hands. It seemed as though Opo understood what the children wanted her to do. She swam into the center of the circle to perform tricks with a beach ball.
Opo seemed to sense those children who were gentle and avoided those who played too roughly. Opo’s favorite swimming friend was 13-year-old Jill Baker, who often swam at that beach. “Whenever Opo saw me go into the water,” Jill said, “she would leave the other swimmers and come to me.” Opo would often dive between Jill’s legs and take her for a ride.
Soon Opo became very well known, and people traveled long distances to see and touch the friendly dolphin. The store owners near the beach noticed their business picked up. To honor the dolphin that attracted the visitors they set up a sign at the entrance of the village. It read “Welcome to Opononi. But please do not kill our happy dolphin.”
Opo won the love of so many people that they got together to pass a law forbidding any one to hunt, capture or hurt any dolphin in the bay.
Only a few days after this law was passed, Opo was missing. Volunteers went out to search for her, but they did not find her. Later a clam digger found Opo’s body on some rocks. Apparently she was the victim of an underwater explosion.
The townspeople buried Opo on their beach, setting up a monument over her grave in memory of their happy and lovable friend.
Among all of God’s creatures dolphins are some of the most friendly and sociable. When God made them He gave them a heart which needs others to make them happy. Opo, who had probably lost her mother, found companionship with the swimmers of Opononi beach.
When God made man He gave man a heart so large that only God is great enough to fill it. Even our best friends, the kindest of brothers and sisters, and the most loving parents, although wonderful in themselves, aren’t enough to fill a child’s or an adult’s heart. Only our Maker, the loving Lord Jesus, is able to satisfy our hearts.
“Abide in Me, and I in you” (John 15:44Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)) are the words of the Lord Jesus. How do we abide in Him and He in us? First, we need to know Him as our Saviour. Once we admit that we are a sinner and accept the salvation He offers us, then the Lord Jesus is our Saviour. We then can enjoy loving Him, this Man who loved us so much that He died for us. A hymnwriter wrote, “Jesus! Thou art enough the mind and heart to fill.” What a wonderful truth this is!
ML-08/31/1986