Cliche as it is...

I love visiting upstate NY. Not only do I return to my roots, which recharges my batteries, but I also return to the lusciousness of green grass and robust maples and oaks. My heart sings looking at all the greenery. San Diego has its beauty: palm trees, the year-round smell of flowers outside, and the ocean. Yet it does not compare to the green blanket and the thick, towering trees. As an added bonus, my parents live along the Great Chazy River. Even more beauty in my backyard. My mom and I decided to go out on the canoe. We came to where the current is stronger and you can see some rocks. I say lets go for it. She complies, because I want to even though she has never done it. "We won't be able to come back; the current is too strong," she warns. "Sure we can," I stubbornly retort, "It'll just take a while." We paddled forward and braced ourselves. A rock lurked in the water and our canoe paused. Mom wiggled us free and I laughed. What a start. We cruised down the river, skimming a few rocks. We finished the 1st section and the 2nd. We saw two young boys playing in the river. The 3rd stretch of current looked stronger. Suddenly, my mom decided that we should paddle to the side and stop our adventure. I paddled a bit, but it was clearly too late. We hit a rock sideways and I thought we're about to go swimming. I noticed the rocks below and hope for a gentle capsize. We managed to stay afloat, but we turned around. Mom turned us back around and I said, "We'd have been fine if you didn't freak out." We had a good laugh. We went down stretch number 4 and then called it good. We paddled to dry land near a bridge. We pushed the canoe up a hill and I was still laughing, reflecting on our adventure. I wasn't much help lifting the canoe. Mom walked home to get the car. I sat on the bridge soaking in the greenery of nature. Growing up I always heard, "Go with the flow." As an only child, I was resistant to the idea but over time I accepted it as a mantra. I began thinking how life throws rocks in your path. Some are visible, but others cannot be seen until you're bumping into them. Resistance is when you can get hurt, but if you just do your best to enjoy the ride you'll make it through. Maybe you'll get turned around, but that's where family and friends come in. Then my new "God-perspective" thoughts started churning. Pre-God I would have said I was lucky. Sitting on the bridge, I began thinking how I whimsically decided to go down the current. It wasn't planned. Yet God knows about my whimsical decisions and can plan ahead accordingly. We could have tipped over. We did not. I sat peacefully on the bridge admiring the scenery and appreciating that God has a plan for me. He cannot always clear the rocks out of my path, but he brings me through it. Next time, though, I think I'll wear a helmet.