Wham Bam
Many of you know that I just returned from visiting my cousin in Hawaii. It was an amazing time, and was certainly a once in a lifetime experience. My time in Hawaii was filled with all of the things that we wanted to do while we were there, but was also a time for me to be alone (I went without the kids) and reflect. These last three years have been a whirlwind, and it is currently that time in my life that involves a lot of things changing very soon. So, some inner calm is certainly desirable. I felt the whole time that I was going to learn something while I was there. I am like that, I look for signs and meaning in everything, everywhere I go. I usually find it. It's funny because I half expected something to be "wham bam" in my face. But it didn't happen that way.
There was a day when we went on a pontoon out to the sand bar. It was a going away party for my cousin's husband, who ironically couldn't be there. The captain of the pontoon brought a paddleboard with him which turned out to be the hit of the day with the kids. I decided to try my hand at it as well. I was told that it was difficult to paddleboard, due to keeping balance on a board on the water and paddling at the same time. Naturally, my determined self stood up on the board, got the paddle and began paddling. I felt like I was doing very well, and was comfortable on the board. All of a sudden I realized I could no longer hear the voices of anyone in our group... really no sound at all, except that of the ocean. I turned myself around, and was shocked at how far out I had paddled without even realizing it. I had a moment of panic as I saw how small the pontoon was on the horizon. I was on a small board in the middle of the ocean, with a paddle and no lifejacket. Thankfully, I was able to focus and calm myself and began paddling toward the pontoon/sand bar. This time, the water that so easily brought me out, was not so easy to paddle against. There were times when I felt I wasn't moving at all, and times when the water was shifting me another way. I paddled for quite sometime without getting very far. It was then that I heard an inner voice that said, "If you can't make it back on your own two feet, get down on your knees." I paddled standing up a few more times, because I am stubborn like that. Then I grinned, and lowered to my knees, (thank the powers that be for good balance) and situated myself. I began paddling. Let me tell you, it was so much easier and faster that way. It may seem silly to some, but I believe that this was my lesson while I was in paradise.
Sometimes, we get out too far and can't find our way back on our own two feet. It is then that getting on our knees (aka praying) that bring us back easier and faster. Lesson learned. I'd still like a wham bam in my face sign with bright shiny flashing lights, but I've come to realize that it doesn't typically happen that way. Signs and meanings are subtle. You have to learn to listen, but listening is only the first step - it's the action that gets you there safely.
See that person way in the distance. That's me. And I hadn't turned around yet.
There was a day when we went on a pontoon out to the sand bar. It was a going away party for my cousin's husband, who ironically couldn't be there. The captain of the pontoon brought a paddleboard with him which turned out to be the hit of the day with the kids. I decided to try my hand at it as well. I was told that it was difficult to paddleboard, due to keeping balance on a board on the water and paddling at the same time. Naturally, my determined self stood up on the board, got the paddle and began paddling. I felt like I was doing very well, and was comfortable on the board. All of a sudden I realized I could no longer hear the voices of anyone in our group... really no sound at all, except that of the ocean. I turned myself around, and was shocked at how far out I had paddled without even realizing it. I had a moment of panic as I saw how small the pontoon was on the horizon. I was on a small board in the middle of the ocean, with a paddle and no lifejacket. Thankfully, I was able to focus and calm myself and began paddling toward the pontoon/sand bar. This time, the water that so easily brought me out, was not so easy to paddle against. There were times when I felt I wasn't moving at all, and times when the water was shifting me another way. I paddled for quite sometime without getting very far. It was then that I heard an inner voice that said, "If you can't make it back on your own two feet, get down on your knees." I paddled standing up a few more times, because I am stubborn like that. Then I grinned, and lowered to my knees, (thank the powers that be for good balance) and situated myself. I began paddling. Let me tell you, it was so much easier and faster that way. It may seem silly to some, but I believe that this was my lesson while I was in paradise.
Sometimes, we get out too far and can't find our way back on our own two feet. It is then that getting on our knees (aka praying) that bring us back easier and faster. Lesson learned. I'd still like a wham bam in my face sign with bright shiny flashing lights, but I've come to realize that it doesn't typically happen that way. Signs and meanings are subtle. You have to learn to listen, but listening is only the first step - it's the action that gets you there safely.
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