Have you ever seen a whale? A really big one? It’s unlikely, as whales live underwater and, usually, far away in the open ocean. Yet, like humans, they need to breathe. sometimes they surface to feed or play. It’s these special moments when we get a glimpse of these gentle giants.

I was recently traveling on a transatlantic cruise, sailing from Florida to Spain. My goal was to walk a part of the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrimage known as the Way of St. James. Camino walking paths originate in neighboring countries, but all the routes cross Spain, converging in the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela. So, while the long-distance walk was of primary importance, the sea voyage provided a unique way to start this personal journey. I would be able to complete my Camino experience without boarding an airplane. Little did I know that a special surprise was in store, even before I began the walk!

Ocean crossings offer a prime opportunity to spot whales of various kinds, especially in areas rich with marine life like the Azores Islands or Strait of Gibraltar. My wife and I kept our eyes peeled. We were rewarded one morning at breakfast when we spotted whales spouting in the distance.

After many days at sea, our cruise ship entered the Mediterranean. We thought our whale-watching chances had ended as we docked at the port of Cartagena, Spain. This historic town is located beside a small inner harbor that’s protected by a sea wall. After docking, we disembarked to stretch our legs, enjoy the spring sunshine and sip a coffee without it sloshing! As much as we love being aboard ship, it’s a delight to stroll around on firm ground again. We also needed to buy a mobile phone card. Around 2 pm, we returned to the ship for a planned 2:30 pm teleconference with our fellow pilgrims. Connecting to the internet from our cabin proved challenging, so we moved outside to our balcony. Now with better phone service, we joined the group discussion.

The call began routinely enough. A few shared their excitement, while others shared concerns. Then, at 2:42 pm, a disturbance shook us from our seats. A long, dark shape broke the surface beside our cruise ship! Remember, we were docked inside the small harbor in a relatively shallow area. My wife gasped, “It’s a WHALE!” The conference call was forgotten. I leaped from my deck chair, gripping the balcony railing. Sure enough! The enormous creature slid through the water as seagulls screeched above. A trailing fin broke the surface as the whale dove below.

This wasn’t a pilot whale. It wasn’t a harbor porpoise or a dolphin. It was a huge finback whale, the second-largest animal on the planet, almost 60 feet long! Only the mighty blue whale is bigger.

We continued gazing, glued to the rail as the whale circled the harbor for a half hour. It popped up about every 6 minutes, chasing what appeared to be a school of fish. Our call ended about the time the whale disappeared from view.

What was it doing so close? How did we happen to be there at that moment? What was its significance? It seems less like a coincidence and more like a sign from above. After all, the Camino de Santiago is, at its core, a religious pilgrimage. One of my personal pilgrimage goals was to trust God fully.

Perhaps God was already showing me how. After all, He is the creator of all things.

I’ll write more about the Camino experience. But, for now, consider this an introductory post. And take time to ponder where God could be opening your eyes to something new.

“Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths.” – Psalm 148:7