White Water Rafting and Challenges

Today we went White Water Rafting.We’re not the most athletic of people, Certainly not the type to attempt rafting. But we’ve been trying to challenge ourselves, try new things, step out of our comfort zones.

Going rafting was particularly difficult for Ally. She’s not a strong swimmer at all. In fact, she and Aedan have just began swimming lessons,and they are doing wonderfully.  They both LOVE the water. In fact,. they’ve been  swimming like fishes since we got to Pennsylvania in the resort pool.

So today we drove up to the Family Rafting place.  I knew that Ally was nervous. In fact, she told me once, Mom, I don’t think I want to  go.  I reassured her that she was gong to be fine, I’d be with her, and away we went.

After we were fitted for life vests, and had  a quick, and I mean quick  lesson on rafting- we boarded the  buses for the  river.  We were joined by a few families,  A camp of the Brooklyn Korean Church, and  a summer boys camp from Brooklyn (there was one causality from the camp when on  boy tossed a rock and hit  another boy with a rock in the head- blood flew- and a quic trip to the hospital ended up with no stitches, thank God!)

Anyway,. we bravely boarded our raft, wading up to our knees, with Ally whimpering.  We did it all wrong, I was the “captain” and I sat in the front, with  the kids behind me.  I was trying like heck to get that raft to go the way I wanted it to go, to no avail. After we were pulled to the side by a kayaking guide- we  walked up a hill to the  Barbeque. Ally wept the whole time- she was scared, she hated it, and she WANTED TO GO HOME.    I don’t blame her for being scared, i was  a little nervous, too, but I knew that  we had to finish the route.  I know how important it is to  finish was we start. And I knew that Ally could do it.   So, I went out and found another guide and asked for some help.   I really wanted the kids to know that they could do Anything IF THEY PUT THIER MINDS TO IT. Ally sobbed all the way back to the rafts. She balked at getting in. She was scared. She doubted herself.  And then, finally, she just  took a deep breath and  jumped in. 

The raft started floating, and eventually the guide jumped into our raft and gave us a few pointers.  And, just like that, we were gliding smoothly down the river. Well, maybe not so smoothly, but we were  gliding, and best of Ally was stroking the paddle thru the water, yelling at Aedan to stop squirting people with his water gun and to  paddle.  I was busy attempting to steer the darn thing. I have the blisters to prove it! watching the two of them paddling thru the water made me so happy and proud. I simply put down my paddle and laughed as we spun around dizzily in circles.   We did it.  WE DID IT!!!  We learned how to  paddle a raft down the river, and none of us fell off. In fact, Aedan,. my shy swimmer guy, who wouldn’t go into water higher than 3 feet before the past swimming lessons, asked permission and hopped over the side of the raft and into the river to swim. (yes, he had a life jacket on). Then, the skies opened up and it POURED. It was wonderful!   We all laughed and laughed, until we came around a bend and then we stopped.  A big bunch of rapids and swirling white water.  Even I  gulped bit at this. Then they did something that made my soul smile. The kids looked at each other. Then they started singing.

It is good to trust in the Lord our God. Trust and hope in the Lord our God. 

A chant praising and trusting in God. A Taize chant we learned a few years ago.Taize Chants We attended a church in New York where the Minister of Music  touched us in many ways, but this gift she shared with us ,these chants,were the most impactful.  They have become the thing my kids go to when they are scared or lonely or needing reassurance. .We all sing them, all the time.

A funny thing about this impromptu singing. As I chimed in with the Alto part (hey, years in the church choir won’t be put to waste) and we sang those chants all the way over the  rapids. We swept past people stuck on rock, it seemed easier for me to navigate the raft around he turns and thru the large rocks and boulders, and  before we knew it, were were through them and  safely on the other side.  And one of the most amazing thing was the kids just smiled, and kept going. They knew that they were taken care of, both by me and Him.

I guess that’s how we all grow. We get scared, was doubt ourselves, then we buckle down and trust in ourselves, and most importantly, in Him.

 

I’m so proud of our kids.

Happy Summer.

Comments

[Ali Bitteker]

That is awesome and insprirational.....you guys are amazing and we miss you. We are all happy you guys are having such an amazing vacation.

[White Water Rafting Trip]

This just proves that there's no harm in trying. It is good to know that even if you're not used into rafting activity, you still had fun. I guess you've realized that adventure trip has always been a source of fun, adventure, and relaxation. ;)