As we were standing on a rock by the creek, lo and behold, what is coming downstream but a group of bright kayaks! YEAH!! I maneuvered myself down to a lower rock closer to the water so I could get better pictures. And take pictures I did.
Unfortunately, I have no clue who these kayaker dudes are. If, by some very odd chance, you are one of the kayakers and you happen to read this, let me know who you are and I'll label the pictures. Thanks!
Some of today's pictures:
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| Charlotte standing on the rock |
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| looking downstream |
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| Charlotte sitting on the rock |
  here come the kayakers  |
looking upstream    |
So, you may be wondering why this kayak passion?! Well, I mentioned in the previous post that I am a "wanna-be" kayaker. When I was young and attended camp, I got to kayak in small red kayaks and I got to canoe.
Fast forward MANY years from my camp days as a camper. Sometime between 2001 and 2004, I attended a local paddling weekend sponsored by the local paddling club. We camped out at a campground on the Hiwassee River and spent two days paddling. I learned the basics going down the Hiwassee and a portion of the Ocoee. I learned how you properly "swim" a river as I did that the majority of my time on the Hiwassee. I learned how to get out of the kayak when I'm upside down. I had a blast doing it though my body turned all shades of purples, blacks, and blues.
I even learned some life lessons that weekend. For some reason, I thought as an adult learner, I should simply be able to "get it". I was losing patience with myself as I kept struggling and falling over. One of the instructors reminded me that I was a novice by asking me how long I had been doing this. I had to be honest with myself and recognize that my skill level was not that of a trained adult in this area. I had to accept that it was okay and to keep on learning and trying.
That revelation not only helped me in life learning, but in teaching. It helped me relate to learners as they came at language learning from different skill levels. As a teacher, I tried to learn new things out of my comfort zone and skill level often so I could remember what it was like to be a new learner.
It's a good reminder that we cannot be experts at all things, especially at that which we don't strive. With effort, patience, time, perseverance, and maybe some bruises from the bumps along the way, we can make it. We might not be the best in that field, but we can at least learn new things.
I have applied this concept on my spiritual journey as well. There are areas of spiritual practices that are harder for me, such as silence. However, I am learning that as I spend time in silence I am able to grow a little bit in that area. Silence enables me to listen more clearly. As I practice this means of grace, my "muscles" in this area become stronger. I find that I am able to spend more time in silence now than in the past. This doesn't mean I have it down, it simply means I'm on the journey to growing in this area.
And you thought the entire blog was about kayaking. Well, everything can have connections to something else. I didn't spend a lot of time on the spiritual stuff this time, but I did throw it in. I can't help but to do that as I'm connected. I'm not divided up into little compartments into which I can put spiritual things in one place and the rest of life in another. It is all one place. Therefore, the spiritual may flow from the other or the other may flow from the spiritual.
I haven't kayaked in quite a while. After that camping, paddling weekend I did go to several roll practices that they had in the area, some at an indoor pool, some at the lake. At one of those roll practices, a younger person helped with my roll by lifting my paddle slightly high as I came up. I had impingement shoulder problems after that. I got some physical therapy and some shots and worked the bursitis and impingement back to shape. However, last year that shoulder and the other one decided to start acting up again.
I do hope to get in a boat again. It is a thrill to take a run down a swollen creek or a river. Just looking at those guys makes me want to do it again. And, if I can't do it in a kayak, maybe I can ride in bigger boat with others doing the paddling. (I've gotten to whitewater raft too-- here in the states AND in Costa Rica-- LOVE IT!)
Meanwhile, I may have to settle for getting my motorcycle back into running condition and taking that out on the road so I can feel the air flowing. I think my shoulders are ready for riding!
Whether it's on the water, on two wheels, on two feet.... however you choose to interact with creation, may your journey include some outdoor time!
~Debra
PS-- Remember to be patient with yourself when you are learning something new. Seek out others learning to do the same thing so that you will have companions on your journey.
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