The Sting of Drifting

The Sting of Drifting

I awake to the sound of water lapping aside my little rowboat. First one eye opens and then the other - rubbing them for a second to clear out the muck from the previous night’s sleep.

The air is cool and the world is silent, other than the lapping water and a few birds in the distance.

I sit up - “Another day!” I think as the sun peaks over the horizon, with its orange highlights now filling the dappled blue sky.

I turn to the left, staring intently at the shoreline - yep, still drifting ever further downstream. Then settling in once again - I wait.

I see it! - I think - as I sit up straining my eyes ahead - it’s another bridge! This is not the first time I have passed one.

Why are they here I think to myself, where do they go, what is their point?

The previous bridges have all been different. Some wild, some new and innovative, some plain and unassuming - each with a sign with its own simple message.

Drifting closer and closer I am starting to see this one a bit better now.

I am interrupted for a moment by a question in my head, “How long have I been drifting on this stream anyway?” My mind answers quippily, “Forever.”

 
I can see the bridge perfectly now - hmm... It’s dark, tattered, and in desperate need of repair.

Squinting my eyes, I can barely make out the words on the sign...

“The End”.

As I approached it, I could feel the water growing in speed and anxiousness filled my heart. I turned to the left and then to the right - the shorelines were racing by - faster than they’d ever done before.

Then something I never noticed before.

There in the bottom of the boat lay an oar.

I grabbed it and paddled ferociously against the cruel current, but it was of no use. Its speed was too great to overcome.

“What will I do?”, I thought.

I cried out to God, “Help me Lord, I don’t know what to do! I’ve been drifting so long through this life… is this how it will end?”

And in my mind, I heard two things - the words to Moses, “What is in your hand?” And... “be intentional.”

I stared at the oar for what felt like several minutes.

Then placed it back in the water and began to guide my little rowboat and my anxious heart settled.

“Lord, how about this way?” - no longer attempting to fight the current but instead, choosing to participate with it - “This is the only way”, I felt God say.

I close with this thought from the Book of Job from the Bible: “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

For this, I am eternally grateful…

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