Last night, we watched an amazing True Stories programme on More4. Dolphin Boy told the story of a boy called Morad who suffered a terrible attack and brutal torture. As a result of the traumatic nature of the attack, he completely disconnected himself from reality - no speaking, no interaction, in effect he was dead.
After several unsuccessful treatments, he was taken to a centre in Eilat, Israel, which specialises in Dolphin treatment. Four times a week, he went swimming with dolphins, interacting with them, so that after four months or so, he was coming back to himself again, speaking, interacting and so on.
What struck me, though, was how his transformation was described. His psychologist says to him in the film: It's as if you were born at the age of 18.
In his own words, One day I opened my eyes, and I found myself in the reed, surrounded by dolphins. This was the first day of my life.
What a great picture of the gospel - as a result of sin, he was, in effect, dead, a dead man walking. He couldn't help himself, couldn't bring himself out of it. But one day, he was born anew, born again, and became a new person.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Dolphin Boy is available on 4oD for the next 29 days.
Hmm, fascinating.
ReplyDeleteMust have a look at it.