Saltwater and Sharks: Finding Hope in the Chaotic Deep by Dr. Chase Bowers
“There is, one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath. The same waves wash the moles of the new-built California towns, but yesterday planted by the recentest race of men, and lave the faded but still gorgeous skirts of Asian lands older than Abraham.”
The ocean has always carried a double meaning: beauty and terror, wonder and chaos. In this reflective episode of The Storied Outdoors, our long-time friend Chase Bowers explores the sea as both lived experience and sacred symbol, weaving together childhood memories, encounters with sharks, snorkeling adventures, and biblical theology.
From the glassy stillness of Newport Beach to the vibrant reefs of the Caribbean, this episode examines how fear takes root, how wonder can be reclaimed, and why Scripture so often places God’s redemptive power over the waters. The sea becomes a living parable of creation and fall, danger and beauty, surrender and trust.
Drawing on passages from Genesis, Psalms, the Gospels, and Revelation, alongside literary echoes from Herman Melville, this episode reflects on how God meets humanity in places we cannot control. The sea may whisper fear, but it also echoes hope. Chaos is real—but it is not sovereign.
This episode is for listeners interested in:
Christian reflections on nature and the outdoors
Faith, fear, and trust in uncertain times
Biblical symbolism of the sea
Storytelling rooted in personal experience
Theology, wonder, and the natural world
Whether you love the ocean or fear what lies beneath it, Saltwater and Sharks invites you to listen closely—to the waves, to the story, and to the God who still calms the deep.
