What a crazy week! I am gonna try to catch up on some stuff.
I went rafting a week ago during the 4th of July weekend. It was by far
the best rafting trip I have ever been part of. The best part
about it was falling off the raft and almost drowning. Well, I didn't
come that close but I was beginning to panic...
We just went down on a series of relatively small drops when we made
a wrong landing. We lost the control of our raft and I saw my
friend in corner of my eye falling off, so I leaned-in and looked back
to realize that everyone had fallen off, including the guide! I tried
to lean in closer, but at that same time the momentum changed and I
fell head first into the water. I totally lost my sense of direction
while in the water and tried to go up only to be blocked by something.
I thought it was one of my friends until I realized that I was under
the raft. I tried moving the raft somehow with my hand with no
result. Then all of sudden my guide grabbed my arm and pulled me above
the water. I was so dazed that only thing I could think of was the
emergency procedure. So I floated with my toes above the water and
pointed them down-stream. After a awhile at a somewhat peaceful spot,
my friends were yelling something at me but I could not make out what
they were saying because water had gotten into my ear. Then I realized
that they were yelling "put your foot down!!!" So I tried to get up
only to hit my butt on the rocks that were like 5 inches away from my
butt the whole time I was floating. hehe....
Although falling off the raft brought panic into our hearts at that
time, when everything was set and done we realized that it was our best
trip ever. Just like that, without struggles our lives would be
just plain and boring. More importantly, it is through struggles we
learn new things about ourselves. If I had just fell off like everyone
else, I would have been able to grab the safety rope on the side and
things would have just gone on. Instead, I resisted going into the
water as much as I can eventhough falling off and grabbing the rope was
an easier option. In the end, I was worse off by resisting.
Open your eyes and open your hearts...God is giving you a lesson every moment of your life....
Comments (6)
yeah, i guess rebuke from God is necessary to shape our character and gets us to try harder (because there is no greater influence than God, well, except satan when he poses as God but we later figure that out). but another situation that we can maybe work on as christians while playing sports is to encourage one another (it's okay to joke around that someone did something or missed the ball but then to encourage them afterwards) in God's love after rebuke, so they can go on to try their best even more.
i'm doing well... i've been busy with work too. working for family business isn't so easy. i'm glad you had time to rest during your july 4th trip (well, despite the rafting event which later turned to something positive). i didn't get a chance to attend the youth service because i was asked to teach the elementary kids but i heard chris' sermon was good :) it's my turn to speak in a month *nervous*
hope to hear more from you soon! i always enjoy reading good comments! :) take care tony~
stoner!