Something Fishy This Way Comes
If you’re missing the unity and hope we shared during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, do not despair. There’s still a tiny little bit of it left on the web, courtesy of the Dutch.
I recently came across the website for the Visdeurbel (Fish Doorbell) in The Netherlands. I confess, I’m hooked. From the ‘About’ section:
“In the heart of the city lies the beautiful Weerdsluis, a manually operated lock. When the lock gates are closed, fish are forced to wait, wasting valuable time and energy – making them easy prey for birds and predatory fish. To help the fish, an underwater camera is installed at the lock. If fish appear on screen, you can press the doorbell! This alerts the lock keeper, who will open the lock when many fish are waiting.”
Yes, it’s really that simple. Watch an underwater livestream, ring the doorbell when you see a fish, and you very well might save its life. Some dude in The Netherlands opens a door and lets it pass through, after which point the fish will proceed to ask him if he has heard the good news of Jesus Christ.
How utterly fucking fabulous is that?
The website has some handy tips for making the most of your fish-watching experience. The fish usually appear in March, but the migration really picks up in April. Most fish are active at dawn or dusk (Central European Time), and you’re more likely to spot eels at night. You can learn all about the history of the Fish Doorbell, download lessons if you’re a K-12 instructor, and see pics of fish who recently came knocking on the door.
But the best part?
Just below the live feed, you can see the number of people watching along with you around the world. I’m currently watching with 1,359 other people right now. I have no idea who they are or where they are, but knowing we’re all tuned in at this very moment of time with the shared hope of helping a fish along its way – and maybe even saving its life – is unexpectedly delightful. WWE wrestler Shiloh Hill explains it far better than I ever could in this 1-minute video:
Shiloh Hill - Fish Doorbell
So when you get the chance, I encourage you to visit the Fish Doorbell site. Be patient, as it might take a while for a fish to show up on camera. Ring the doorbell when you see one, and think of the hundreds or thousands of other folks across the world who are sharing the experience with you.
And for a brief, fleeting moment, you might just feel a tiny little bit of that same warmth and connection and hope we shared in 2020 during some of the darkest days of our lives. I’m grateful that even though the darkness remains, we’re among the few who aren’t blind to it.
I’m grateful we found the light in each other.
If this all sounds fishy, don’t worry. I promise you the Fish Doorbell is legit. Next time you’re wide awake in the middle of the night wondering when exactly democracy will die in North America or when the next pandemic will arrive or if a comet will come along first and take us all out, go check out the Fish Doorbell livestream and wait for a fish to come along.
It might just be the most wholesome place on the web to steal a tiny little moment of joy.
Go ring that bell.
You deserve it.
In good humor and solidarity,
Guiness Pig
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
- ‘Anthem,’ Leonard Cohen
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