The “character” of the river has been different with each visit the past couple of days. There is uncertainty…of what things will look like tomorrow, next week, …next month. I can assume that since there are still an few ice flows and the river bank itself is quite laden with snow…there will be a steady swell…imminent flooding.

We can not always predict how life will go…even if we were to choose to launch our canoe with the current…and go with the flow. “Seasonal” and weather patterns can be somewhat predictable…but often there are some surprises…both good an bad…that can unfold. Should we make a lot of plans….solidify our journey with “intent”…only to find that there are forces at work….forces of nature sometimes, that will alter our destination.

I am paddling…then floating…then a sudden turn it seems,…. turbulence is just the nature of the river. While a map is often handy (and often down-right advisable) few things challenge us to look at a new reality….then a co-pilot…or navigator. (We often struggle with the appreciation of a back-seat driver….but are there few positions in life that are more un-nerving than to put your trust in someone else…without a hand on the wheel who can blame one who speaks up about where we are going collectively and how fast we should be going).

I have shared this in a previous post…there is little you can do, if the other, in the canoe, is determined to paddle in the opposite direction. We might as well either put the paddle in to help dodge the rocks,….paddle along with them, to get through those rapids swiftly and with more mutual safety…or to just pull up and or out…and go with the flow.

May you find some peace in these words and a “smooth voyage” as the river swells…with more hope to go even further, faster or to new adventures.

BE well…BE swell,

Dave