Friday, June 13, 2014

The Rapids of Life


Early last week, we had an off day in Jinja.  It was the last off day before Anna Catherine Ortego and Mason Lang headed back to the USA.  Given the opportunity, Anna Catherine and April Berry wanted to white water raft on the Nile.  We contacted one of the 2 big rafting companies in Jinja.  They had no one scheduled, and needed at least 3 people to make a tour.  So I joined the ladies for a trip down the Nile.

 

I have rafted in Durango and at the Royal Gorge in Colorado.  I have also rafted 3 times prior on the Nile in Uganda.  My first trip down the Nile was with the men’s group from Henderson Hills Baptist Church in January of 2011.  Since that time, two hydroelectric dams have been constructed along the Nile as it starts north out of Jinja.  This has moved the rafting course downstream a few miles.  The rafting companies come up with creative names for the different rapids.  I have been through “the smelter”, “the silverback”, “50/50”, the “Nile Special” among others.

 

On this most recent rafting trip, we elected to go through the level 5 rapids. 
 
We wore helmets and life jackets. 
 
As is usually done, we put in at some calm waters and took some time to do some safety training.  We learned to paddle together, how to “get down” while going through rapids, what to do if we fell out of the boat, and what to do if the boat capsized.  Then off we went for our adventure.  After a few adrenaline pumping rapids, we came to the slow part of the trip.  We were served fresh pineapple and watermelon.  I think that the freshly cut up pineapple on the Nile is the best pineapple anywhere.  Since there were only 3 of us, we could have eaten a whole pineapple each.  I think that I was the only one that came close.  We then strapped back in for the final few rapids. 

 

With our teamwork and the excellent steering of our guide, we had navigated through all of the level 5 rapids with nothing but sheer excitement.  As we came up to the last set of two rapids, the guide got our attention to let us know what was coming.  The first of the 2 last rapids was called “the bad place”.  It was an area where the water dropped then rolled back on itself.  If our raft got caught in the circulation of water, it would be “bad”.  There was a narrow space between the bank and “the bad place” where we were to go to avoid the trouble.  As we approached “the bad place”, we focused all of our effort on avoiding it.  We made it past “the bad place” and immediately were flowing into the second level 5 rapid, “the other place”.  As we hit “the other place”, our boat got sideways then turned up on its side and flipped over. 


 

As the boat flipped, I was able to remember what to do from my previous experiences.  I was able to grab onto the rope that goes around the boat’s edge.  I went into the river, but barely under the water.  As my eyes cleared, I saw April coming up, looking a little startled, and facing away from the boat.  I was able to grab her arm and bring her hand to the boat’s rope.  I was on the opposite side of the boat from Anna, but I could hear her talking, so I knew she was above the water level.  Our guide then instructed us in flipping the boat back right side up.  We did this and then helped each other back into the boat.

 

This reminded me of some life situations.  

1.)     We can be lulled into a sense of security while navigating the rivers of life.  When we have successes, we often take for granted that future successes will come.

2.)    We often spend too much time and energy trying to avoid “the bad place” and end up wrecking in “the other place”.  Often we spend significant time and energy trying to do what is right or good, and miss out on the “best” that God has for us.

3.)    Preparing in advance and surrounding yourself with Christian friends is mandatory for safely navigating down life’s rapids.  If the waters are rough, we have to "get down" at times.  When our boat is turned upside down, we often need a friend, who has been down this rapid before, to grab us and lead us back to the rope.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing”.

 

As we navigate the river of life, the rapids will come.  Take advantage of the calm waters to nourish yourself and prepare yourself and your “team” for the times that you fall into the river.

 

Jay

No comments:

Post a Comment