the Desired Haven

"Quick! The sun is out- let's go for a bikeride."
"Wait, the sun is gone...."
"Batten the hatches! Looks like a tornado!"
"Quick! The sun is out- let's go for a bikeride."

And so it went, all Father's Day. In the end, we never did go for the Father's Day bikeride, never did get Pistachio frozen yogurt, and spent the day wondering what Mother Nature was up to. Summer in Charlotte is often like that. Late afternoon storms have a way of popping up and throwing trees around like toothpicks. In the end, we spent an uneventful day in the living room, waiting for a storm that never came.

Our 6 pm "after dinner" guided kayak trip tonight down the Catawba is going to undergo a similar scenario. Right now, thunderstorms are predicted, starting right as we are due to settle our derrieres into the kayaks. Once on the water, we don't have a lot of choice but to stay on it til we reach the take-out point 2 hours later. It is all but impossible to kayak upstream in that section of the Catawba. The river is fast, and filled with fun riffles of white water rapids. They are little ones, just class 1 rapids....or so I have been told. Having never traversed that section of the Catawba, Asherel and I are finally fulfilling a dream I have had for two years, to kayak an easy white water section near our home. But since I am not foolish, at least not this time, we are going with a paid guided group for this trip. If it doesn't kill us, we can do it again on our own. 

But those pesky thunderstorms are lurking. After our day of indecision, and finally not going on the bikeride, the thunderstorms never did materialize. We could have gone....but we chose to be safe rather than sorry. Now we are safe....and sorry. That is often the trade off.....

It seems I am often in the same dilemma as the thunderstorms. Do I stay or do I go? Do I risk the unknown and race off to a potential storm, or do I sit safe, fat, and regretful right where I am? Even my vacillating feelings over this kayak trip follow that pattern. The kayak trip is not without danger.... all one has to do is look at the three page fine print release we must sign before the guide will take charge of us. All kinds of awful things could happen.... and right on the cusp of my son's wedding day! What if I smash my face on rocks, get stuck in a copperhead nest, and subsequently have to hobble down the aisle with a ventilator strapped to my beautiful gown? It could happen....

But, I have wanted to do this trip for two years, ever since I discovered that other people have done that section regularly, and rave about it. So often, experiencing life's joy to the fullest involves taking a leap.... a leap of sanity, a leap of courage, a leap of faith. Not all things can be reasoned through with calm rational pros and cons.Sometimes one just has to throw the kayak in the water along with caution, and hang on for the sheer thrill of being carried to a place otherwise unseen.

Psalm 107:23-31
²³ Some went out on the sea in ships;
   they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁴ They saw the works of the LORD,
   his wonderful deeds in the deep.
²⁵ For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
   that lifted high the waves.
²⁶ They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
   in their peril their courage melted away.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
   they were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
   and he brought them out of their distress.
²⁹ He stilled the storm to a whisper;
   the waves of the sea were hushed.
³⁰ They were glad when it grew calm,
   and he guided them to their desired haven.
³¹ Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love