EDDY FORGIVENESS

At some time, an “eddy” is a challenge every canoeist faces.”  A river eddy most likely appears close to the river bank.   Eddies are caused by obstructions, generally rock formations, that interfere with the water flow.  Behind the obstruction an eddy looks like a still pond of water and sometimes creates a current that moves upriver against the general flow.  I have seen canoeists flip their canoes in small rivers even when the current is relatively slow.  This happens when the canoeist does not recognize the danger and allows the bow of the canoe to drift into the upstream current of the eddy while the stern tries to continue down river.  The resulting flip is sudden and most often simply embarrassing, although in swift water can be dangerous.  

There are going to be obstructions in life we are not prepared to deal with effectively.  It is important to be as prepared as possible, but it is also important not to give up.  Making mistakes is hard wired into the human experience.  Adam and Eve lived in a world that was practically perfect and they started off as close to perfect as any two humans, other than Christ, ever have.  They made a mistake.  Someone who says they have never flipped a canoe hasn’t canoed often.  Our preparation is intended to help us not make the big mistake.  It is essential to embrace our mistakes, cover them with forgiveness, and learn how to not make the same mistake again.  These learning experiences may benefit us more than the immediate issue; we might apply our new knowledge to every aspect of life and live more abundantly. 

Soon it will become muscle memory to identify the river eddy and rudder hard in the opposite direction to skirt the eddy; or if capture by the counter current, to relax, get low and let the counter current turn your canoe upriver.  When all is good make an about face and get on with the journey.  You might find it fun to journey against the flow.  Indeed an eddy can be a useful tool to land your canoe in a swift river.