Every Morning | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Every Morning | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dawn Elwell
10/08/15
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We pulled up to the point at Pymatuning and marveled at the calm glassy surface before us; a rare thing at this end of Py. Delighted at the chance to explore a new section of our favorite lake we quickly unloaded our boats and slipped into our water shoes. The sky was gray, but rain wasn’t expected until evening. Drifting happily, feet dangling overboard to drain our shoes, we scanned the area. An island in the distance piqued our interest. We adjusted our seating and settled into a steady stroke, almost in perfect sync.
The first time we kayaked, a few years before, we had rented a tandem. It seemed like a fun idea, but we’re both firstborns and we both like to gawk. Two leaders gawking translates into paddle banging. The next time we tried two recreational kayaks. They waddled through the water pulling left and right with each stroke like Mr. and Mrs. Ducky, but were great for scouting a wildlife area and racing each other between buoys near the dock. Being lighter was an advantage.
When we saved enough to buy our own, we went to a paddle-sport shop on the river where we were able to try different boats before making a decision. We settled on thirteen and a half foot transitional kayaks in lime green. I watched my husband’s cut gracefully through the water and smiled deeply at his enjoyment. He glanced my way, eyes beaming, embracing, drinking the fullness of delight as one. Just then a breeze began to sweep across the lake generating a ripple of excitement. Epimeno (my kayak’s name, from the Greek word often translated perseverance) handles best heading straight into the wind. Energized, I lengthened my stroke and pounded out a powerful cadence. Together we flew into seemingly endless water, sky, breath, life!
Steadily the wind increased. Waves formed and rose, water splashed. Muscle strained to meet our hearts while the mass beneath us swelled and heaved until all was unrelenting motion. The sky was darkening quickly now and wisely we agreed, the island would have to wait for another day.
As we turned our boats toward the point, all was raucous where glass had been. Pulling constantly to the port in a battle to stay perpendicular to the troughs, I realized a straight course would be impossible. Being lighter was a disadvantage and Py’s agitation was mounting merciless. We traversed as much as we could and made for a cove. From there we labored along the shore line and approached the point from a more harbored area. My left shoulder was aflame, but I summoned strength from a raw sense of survival. Besides, my perfectionistic commitment to never dump my boat had made practicing a wet exit seem like a ridiculous idea.
I rounded the last bend to find a row of people sitting in lawn chairs out in the shallows along the launch site, apparently enjoying Py’s performance. This certainly wasn’t going to be smooth. Did we have to have an audience? I hoped they would see our plight and at least move out of the way, but upon my desperate exit, the surge tumbled me out of my boat and almost into their laps. Inches from a large man gaping at me I wrestled Epimeno toward the sand and heard him mundanely offer, “It’s a little rough out there today.”
Looking back on times when life has left me so delightfully, perseveringly, surviving and speechless, laughing out loud will do. But deeper within I find an awe, a gratefulness, a desire to worship. I don’t want to take for granted water, sky, breath, life, and a blown out shoulder that has healed and is as good as new.
Seasoned seamen caught in a fierce gale, tossed about in crashing waves were not only fearful, but offended. Jesus was in the boat sleeping! He had been teaching and ministering all day, laboring that people would see spiritual reality. They woke Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” That’s why He came in flesh! So He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And when it became perfectly calm they became even more afraid and wondered, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Holy awe. “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (John 1:4). I want to know Him more, whose mercies are new every morning.

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