A Deep-Sea Celebration
By Christy Lowman
Burke County
This month we celebrate the Independence of our country. I wanted to talk about an animal that would go with this theme. God has created such amazing animals. It was hard to pick just one, but this one seemed to go along perfectly!
It is called Halitrephes Massi Jellyfish or the Fireworks Jellyfish. It is known for its deep-sea firework display it gives off at 4000 ft underwater.
This beauty can only be seen if there is light shining on it, otherwise, it gracefully glides through the ocean water almost invisible to others. This invisibility, helps it to survive.
The Fireworks Jellyfish has been seen at the Revillagigedo Archipelago, close to California and Mexico by a submarine named ROV Heracles.
This jelly, like other jellyfish, doesn’t have any bone structure. It gets its shape from the organs inside its body called the bell.
The Fireworks jelly has thin frilled tentacles. So thin, it makes them look like they are not attached to the jellyfish’s body. This gives it the appearance of the explosion of a firework.
The bell of the jellyfish is made up of radial canals that send food through the jellyfish. The canals make a firework burst pattern.
When this almost see-through jelly is lit up with lights from a submarine or other light source, the body lights up in bright yellow and pink colors. The many outside tentacles show an array of vibrant purple, orange, and red lines. This display looks just like a beautiful 4th of July explosion! The backdrop of black deep-sea water is just like the dark sky when we watch a firework show.
If you would like to see this beautiful creature, here is a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D0eyl7-XQA. Make sure you get your parents’ permission to watch it first.
Fireworks have been used in China for celebrations since the 7th century.
Americans have been using them to celebrate our Independence from England since the first anniversary of the victory. President John Adams wanted a huge celebration of fireworks, a parade, the ringing of bells, music played by the country’s military band, a thirteen-gun salute to honor each colony, and one firework rocket for each colony was shot off among many other things.
Oh, how I would have loved to have been there to see it and to join in the celebration of freedom! I can smell the gunpowder and hear the loud booms of the fireworks. The military band would be awesome, stirring the sense of freedom deep in my soul along with wonderful things to taste and eat! In the midst of it all, I imagine God being there celebrating too, for He believes in freedom! Yes, I’m sure it was an awesome day!
Even though it has been 254 years since our first Independence Day celebration it is something we should never forget or take for granted. Our freedom came at a price. The price of the many soldiers’ lives (on both parties). Our freedom only came because God allowed it. Can you think of a time or times in the Bible where God helped His people have freedom? He did the same for us. It would not have happened without Him.
There are countless stories of miracles that happened during the war that changed the course and ultimately helped us win our freedom. Did you know that the majority of the people that came to America were fleeing from religious persecution? Many were your ancestors and were just like you, meaning they worshipped the same God you do, and wanted to do so freely. God wants us to be free to worship Him. His desire is for us to have a relationship with Him. He also wants the very best for us, for us to be happy and free. That is why our Independence Day is so special and important. It wouldn’t have happened without God’s help, and of the lives of those, our ancestors, who passionately wanted freedom so much that they gave up their lives for it.
Please never forget how important this holiday is and thank God on this day and every day for the freedom He allows us to have here in America. A freedom many other people around the world would love to experience.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
Bibliography
https://blog.therainforestsite.greatergood.com/halitrephes-firework-jelly/
https://www.bhg.com/holidays/july-4th/traditions/why-fireworks-on-fourth-of-july/
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Christy Lowman is a Christian author and illustrator that lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and two children. She enjoys writing and illustrating books for all ages. Some of her short stories are published with Guideposts and HCI. Christy gives all the glory to God in everything she does. A portion of every book sold from the Small Bible Character Series will be donated to battle human trafficking. If you enjoy her books, “like’ her author page on Facebook and let her know! You can buy her books at //www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AChristy+Lowman&s=relevancerank&text=Christy+Lowman&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1. You can reach her at //www.facebook.com/authorChristyLowman/
or christyssoaps@yahoo.com
You can read more Christian news from Christy here.
**Image is a screenshot from animal planet facebook page.
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