"Construction of what?" I asked.
"A restaurant."
Now I had been praying for a restaurant on that site. I am often ravenous when I finish kayaking, and how wonderful would that be, to sit on the porch of the marina, on the white rocking chair, munching a fresh grilled chicken salad? Note to self: Be careful what you pray for.
"Today? I can't launch my kayak today?"
"Today is ok, but you may have to chuck it over the new fence to get back to your car when you are done."
I would take my chances. What would I do the rest of the summer!? I have several kayak launch sites, but this one is my favorite. I launched my kayak, and paddled sadly onto my beloved Catawba. I had limited time on the river that day with obligations at home, and was grateful to be able to dash out to kayak at all. What would the new restaurant mean long term for my favorite kayaking spot? Would they forever ban the kayaks, to prevent clogged up parking at the new restaurant? It was sure to be popular. There are very few restaurants on the Catawba or the lakes near Charlotte, which I have always felt is horrific city planning.
Soon I forgot my woes. The weather was perfect. A breeze wafted across my arms like silk. It was a strong breeze to kayak against had I been a beginner, but I have been several times this season and my arms are getting strong. I saw Great Blue Herons in the colony on the treetops feeding their greedy little babies. Turtles swam near me, and as I passed a fisherman, he called out, "Are you having fun?"
"I am," I said, "I love this."
"You look like you love it," he said.
I paddled further than usual, since it would be my last time on the Catawba for a while. My shoulders ached a bit when I returned to the car. The construction fence wasn't even started. It was nice that I didn't have to heave my kayak over a fence. I sat on the marina porch white rocking chair, and googled "free launch sites Lake Wylie." I had forgotten the name of the one I discovered last summer, but found it, and put it in my GPS queue. I will go there tomorrow.
Sigh.
There are constant curve-balls in life. Just when you think everything is perfect, God changes it up. There is just very little time to settle in a groove before a new groove appears. What's that all about, anyway? What is wrong with a little complacency, a little routine, a little expectation of sameness?
The absence of change is death. If you want to live...you must experience growth. God said it another way: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food Hebrews: 5:12
He is not complimenting His people here. In the Christian walk, stagnation is never acceptable, and for sure regression is not! We are to grow, to mature, to change, to adapt. Discard the past where it hinders. It is not always easy leaving the certain comfort of what we know for the uncertain paths that we don't. Still, we are not to remain idle in our faith. Each moment should be bringing us closer and closer to the likeness of our Lord.
So, on to a new launch site today. New adventures, new challenges, new waters of faith where all I have learned and observed on the old waters will be put to use. Forgetting what lies behind, and straining forward to what lies ahead....
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Woman. You feed my spirit daily. Thank you.
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