I once heard a speaker compare life to a kayak trip downriver. Sometimes the waters are smooth and we can enjoy a leisurely journey, admiring the beauty all around us. But every now and then we hit the rapids and we’re suddenly thrown into a mad scramble to stay afloat. As we navigate past rocks and other dangers, overwhelmed with fear, we wonder if life will ever be serene and peaceful again. Eventually the river smooths out and we sail back into calmer waters. And if we’re wise, we will have learned some valuable lessons that can prepare us for the next patch of rough water. Here’s what I learned on last year’s voyage:
Our family hit the rapids last June when my husband suffered a heart attack. He has fully recovered now, and we’re back to smooth sailing. But during those weeks of frantic paddling, I learned that life is fragile and precious. God can call us home to Himself at any time. More than ever, I want to hold my loved ones close in the coming year, and not squander a moment of time that I have with them. I need to remember which things in life are really important and which ones aren’t worth fussing about.
In my faith walk, I came into some challenging waters last year when our church hired a new lead pastor. He is a wonderful preacher, and our church has welcomed and embraced him. But he is challenging us to get out of our comfortable ruts so we can think more like Jesus and serve more like Him. I much prefer to float in a lagoon with people who are just like me—but Jesus longs for me to reach out to those who are different, those who may be drowning in the rapids, and offer them a helping hand. Yes, the comfortable ministries I’ve been involved with in the past have been good ones. But for the sake of the kingdom, it’s time for me to stop doing “church” and get involved with the world around me in the same way Jesus did.
My writing life has been mostly calm this past year. And yet . . . I have felt God challenging me not to settle for safe waters. As an act of trust, I need to take new risks and move out into deeper water. One way I’ve been doing that is by self-publishing an out-of-print novel of mine called “Fly Away.” It took a lot of work and required learning new things—and you know what they say about teaching old dogs new tricks! But a letter from a reader made it all worthwhile when she wrote to tell me how much “Fly Away” has blessed her. Why start a new venture when I’ve been successful with a traditional publisher? Why not stay in safe waters? Because sometimes complacency masks a lack of faith. I don’t like change—does anyone? Yet I know from experience that my faith grows the most during times of change.
I wish I could see around the bend in the river at what lies ahead for 2018—but I can’t. So, I’m choosing to sail forward into the unknown, comforted by one of my favorite verses from Isaiah: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:1-2). Bon Voyage!
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I really enjoyed reading Fly away in German. Thank you, Lynn!
Lynn,
Thank you for voicing almost the exact thing I have been realizing in my own personal life! To me it has felt a little like toddler brain fog… my past year has been the experience of kayaking maybe through class 3 rapids. God has been there and I have been faithful but I certainly wouldn’t choose to have gone it alone! I believe I am coming out of those rapids, and yet there were amazing life lessons involved in riding the current that I pray I will be faithful to share.
I am thankful that your family is more dear and cherished by you, and look forward to reading more of your beautiful publishing’s! You are a favorite author of mine. I look forward to reading more!!
PS I just last evening recommended your Pilgrimage book to a new friend who has led several trips to the Holy Land!
Thanks for recommending my book, Sarah. Blessings as yousail on with Jesus!
God has also challenged me not to settle for safe waters. My word for this year is deeper, and I feel Him calling me to go even deeper. I feel like I’m already being stretched out of my comfort zone, but that’s the only way we grow, isn’t it! Loved reading this post.
You’re so right, Becky! I love your word “deeper.” Blessings!
“I much prefer to float in a lagoon with people who are just like me—but Jesus longs for me to reach out to those who are different, those who may be drowning in the rapids, and offer them a helping hand.” I love this sentence. It’s going into my little handwritten purple book of quotes. And it’s also encouraging me to live the truth within it. Thank you, Lynn.
Thanks for sharing, Grace.
I’m late seeing this; but so glad to hear Ken is all right now. And I’m so proud of you for learning how to self-publish something! Way to go, Lynn. I’m impressed.